Like Japan where he coached for a decade and won multiple pro titles, new head coach BT Toews dreams of transforming Gilas Pilipinas women to a powerhouse in Asia. But like every skyscraper in the world, building it will not be an overnight project.
Toning down expectations, the multi-titled Canadian mentor will begin the journey for that ultimate goal in his first-ever tournament at the helm, when the Nationals take on the fancied squads led by host Mexico in the FIBA Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in Guadalajara from August 17-23.
“I’ve had some other offers in Asia to coach national teams but I thought that the Philippines had a really high ceiling,” said Toews, who boasts a decorated 30-year coaching career marked by two titles and three Coach of the Year awards for the Fujitsu Red Waves in the Women’s Japan Basketball League, in a media roundtable Thursday.
‘I thought that the Philippines could really get to the top tier and be perennial contender.”
Doing it will be a long process comprised of little steps and for Toews, that begins with a comprehensive training camp, like the Japanese national team, where everyone invited should be available at all times for familiarity and continuity of the program.
Toews, 60, will bring a 17-woman pool, led by newly crowned Japan league champion Jack Animam, US NCAA Division I standout Vanessa de Jesus and two-time UAAP MVP Kacey dela Rosa, in a five-day camp in Las Vegas, Nevada starting on August 9 before departing for Mexico for the qualifiers.
And Gilas will just go from there with sights also locked on revving up for Asian Games in Achi and Nagoya next month and the country’s hosting of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup next year in Cebu.
“We are building towards that. There’ll be some steps forward and some steps backwards. It happens in basketball. But the long-range plan is to be the best team we can be in the Asia Cup in Cebu,” vowed Toews, appointed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in lieu of now Blackwater head coach in the PBA, Pat Aquino.
As he plots on that journey though, Toews also took time to tip the hat to his predecessor and longtime Gilas mentor Aquino, who turned Gilas into one of the best teams in Asia through decades with his last act featuring the country’s first win ever against a non-Asian team in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers last summer against Colombia, 74-59.
“Coach Pat is Coach Pat. He did a lot for the program to get it this far. And I’m trying to build on what he’s done,” he smiled, vowing to bring a lot of Japanese basketball philosophies on to the Pinoy brand of hoops.
All of these plans by Toews will be laid out in a full calendar and roadmap in consultation with SBP Executive Director Aquino and Gilas women program head Bacon Austria after the Asian Games leading up to the Asia Cup next year.