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| Burke Toews will be Gilas' new head coach in the women's division. WJBL (file photo) |
MAKATI—A new era for Gilas Pilipinas' women's team begins on Wednesday as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced that Burke Toews will take over as head coach.
The 60-year-old Canadian mentor is now tasked to bring the national team to greater heights as he will continue to cultivate the seeds planted by former head coach Pat Aquino.
"After months of searching across continents and with more than a dozen applicants, the SBP selected a Canadian coach based in Japan to lead the squad, which currently ranks 30th in the world according to FIBA," the SBP said in a statement.
Toews is fresh from his second tenure as the Fujitsu Red Wave's head coach, where he led them to back-to-back Women's Japan Basketball League championships in 2024 and 2025.
He first became Fujitsu's chief gaffer from 2014-2016, leading the team to back-to-back finals appearances before he moved to the men's division to coach Sun Rockers Shibuya.
He would become a three-time Coach of the Year awardee for his successful leadership, making him a great fit to replace Aquino, who is now Blackwater's head coach.
