‘Nothing is impossible’: Kacey Dela Rosa hopes breakthrough FIBA run catapults her to new heights

MANILA, Philippines – For years, Kacey Dela Rosa has been touted as the ace of Philippine women’s basketball.

While Gilas Pilipinas Women have long struggled to match their global counterparts, the national program have found both a floor raiser and a potential game changer in Dela Rosa.

In the recent FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers in France, Dela Rosa showcased her ability as a dominant interior presence for Gilas Women. She highlighted her campaign with a 25-point, 19-rebound performance in an upset win over world No. 19 Colombia, the Philippines’ first-ever victory over a non-Asian squad.

Speaking at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) All Women in Sports Awards, Dela Rosa — a two-time UAAP MVP with the Ateneo Blue Eagles — said her experience with the national team and exposure to international competition can only elevate her game and, in turn, Philippine women’s basketball.

“The message here is: Nothing is impossible,” she told reporters. “As a basketball player, my dream is to play in the WNBA. I’m just happy that people are starting to recognize my game.”

“I’m happy that I’m finally seeing the fruits of my hard work. Hopefully, I can reach the WNBA level.”

No Filipina has played in the WNBA, widely regarded as the pinnacle of women’s basketball. The closest was Filipina-American Chanelle Molina, who signed a training camp deal with the Indiana Fever in 2021.

Against Colombia, Dela Rosa delivered one of the top rebounding performances of the qualifiers with 19 boards, while also adding 5 blocks, which were also among the tournament’s best marks.

At six feet, she did not tower over her competition, but her skill set stood out on both ends of the floor.

Dela Rosa finished the tournament averaging 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds as the Philippines placed fifth with a 1 to 4 record.

It also marked the first time she averaged double figures in international play, a significant jump from her 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Division A.

Her performances were among the bright spots in Gilas Women’s promising run in the qualifiers, where the team battled African champions Nigeria, South Korea, Germany, and France.

Because of its performance, the Philippines improved to No. 30 in the FIBA women’s world rankings.

The squad also competed without key mainstays Jack Animam and Naomi Panganiban, placing more responsibility on Dela Rosa, Janine Pontejos, Louna Ozar, Kent Pastrana, Stefanie Bernabe, and Angel Surada.

“I think this tournament can propel us to another level,” Dela Rosa said.

At just 22 years old, Dela Rosa still has two more playing years at Ateneo.

However, a pivot to the professional scene remains open, considering the continued growth of women’s basketball in the country with the advent of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) last year.

For now, she aims to translate the lessons from her Gilas Women stint to the local scene, where she is expected to once again assert her dominance.

“There are so many learnings from the tournament. I think I can use that as I prepare to graduate from Ateneo next year.” – Rappler.com