CANADIAN coach Burke “BT” Toews has been named by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) as the new head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas Women national team on Wednesday.
The SBP said the Japan-based Toews emerged as the top choice among over a dozen applicants after months of evaluating candidates from across continents to lead the national women’s basketball team.
Toews, a former basketball pro in Canada and Germany, takes over from Pat Aquino, who handled the Gilas Women for 12 years before moving to the PBA as head coach of Blackwater.
The 60-year-old tactician recently concluded his triumphant stint with the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League, where he steered the club to back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
He also guided the Red Wave to a victory in the Empress’s Cup All-Japan Basketball Championship, the most prestigious tourney in the country.
The veteran mentor built a winning culture in his 10 seasons with Fujitsu, guiding the team to five Finals appearances while earning three Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to his success with the Red Wave, Toews also coached the Hyogo Storks and Hitachi SunRockers Tokyo-Shibuya in the Japan B.League.
The new Gilas Women coach will prepare the squad for the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament scheduled from August 17 to 23, followed by the Asian Games in September in Japan.
