After about two months of courting, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas finally disclosed the reason on why they’re bringing in a foreign coach to take over from long-time national women’s team mentor Patrick Aquino.
SBP president Ricky Vargas in a Whatsapp message, gave the rationale behind the acquisition of Burke Toews.
“We started courting him seriously about two months ago,” wrote Vargas, also the chairman of the Philippine Basketball Association board of governors.
“Then, ED (executive director) Erika Dy went to talk to him in personally when she went to Japan. We are fortunate to have Burke, who will give us a fresh perspective. I am confident he will help bring women’s basketball to the next level.”
That next level Vargas was referring to could be the Olympic berth or a stint at the FIBA World Cup for women’s, something which had eluded our Philippine cagebelles from the time we competed in the international basketball circuit.
Toews has a rich international winning pedigree.
For two seasons, he led his team, the Fujitsu Red Wave, to back-to-back championships in the Women’s Japan Basketball League. He also steered his team in winning the Empress Cup.
When his contract with the Red Wave ended last year, he waited for the right opportunity until he got a call from the SBP.
Toews is going to take over the role as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas women’s squad, replacing Aquino.
Aquino should be credited to carrying Philippine basketball to new heights.
Under his tutelage, the Filipinas moved up to their best ever ranking in world basketball (30th), which was even better than their male counterparts composed mostly of PBA and professional players from different leagues in Asia.
Gilas Pilipinas, which is being handled by coach Tim Cone of Barangay Ginebra, is currently ranked 36th in the world. The Filipinas were also ranked sixth in the Asian zone, while our cagers were a rack lower (seventh).
Aquino, who led the National University Lady Bulldogs to six straight championships in the UAAP and a record winning streak of 96 straight victories.
The man was also the only coach to catapult our cagebelles to gold medal finishes in the Southeast Asian Games – a gold apiece in the 2019 edition (3×3 and five-on-five), 2021 in Hanoi and 2025 in Bangkok.
Aquino is now head of the Gilas Pilipinas women’s talent identification program.
