Cebu city: Cebu City is set to take center stage in Asian basketball after being named host of the 2027 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, marking the Philippines' first time to stage the continent's premier women's basketball championship.
According to Philippines News Agency, FIBA formally unveiled the tournament's official brand and logo in Cebu on Wednesday, setting the stage for the July 10 to 18, 2027 competition at the newly-opened state-of-the-art SM Seaside Arena. Gilas Women, currently No. 30 in the world, will battle Asia's top national teams for the continental crown in one of FIBA's flagship competitions.
The brand launch gathered key Philippine basketball officials, including Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Ricky Vargas, SBP executive director Erika Dy, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio, and Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. Gregorio led the unveiling of the tournament logo, which draws inspiration from the FIBA Women's Asia Cup trophy, Cebu City's official colors and seal, and traditional Filipino weaving patterns, blending FIBA's global identity with the host city's cultural heritage.
FIBA Asia President Dr. K. Govindaraj said the tournament will allow basketball fans to witness the region's best women's teams on Philippine soil. 'The FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2027 provides a platform for the fans in the Philippines to witness the best of women's basketball right in their own country and for the global fans to experience the passion for the sport in the Philippines,' Govindaraj said.
FIBA Executive Director-Asia Hagop Khajirian described the Women's Asia Cup as one of the federation's most prestigious events and said the tournament continues to elevate the standard of women's basketball across the continent. 'The FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2027 is another step towards consolidating the gains made in the last few years both in terms of excellence in competition and enhancement of women's basketball,' Khajirian said. He added that the tournament's branding was designed to capture the experience awaiting fans in the Philippines and around the world.
For the SBP, hosting the tournament reflects the international federation's confidence in the country's ability to stage world-class basketball events. 'Bringing one of Asia's premier basketball events to the Philippines reflects the confidence that FIBA has in our ability to organize world-class competitions and in the passion of Filipino basketball fans,' Vargas said.
Dy, meanwhile, said hosting the tournament presents a unique opportunity for Gilas Pilipinas Women to showcase the strides the national program has made in recent years. 'Our focus has always been on developing a team that can compete consistently at the highest level in Asia, and having the tournament on home soil provides a platform for our players to inspire the next generation of Filipina basketball players,' she said.
