Tiffany Reyes’ game-winner steers Gilas Girls to historic FIBA U16 win

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

No digits needed to be dialed. When an emergency strikes, just pat Tiffany Reyes on the back.

Talking about poise under pressure and clutch veins, Reyes, one of the most highly touted prospects of the Gilas Pilipinas Girls basketball program, came through when the national team needed her the most after sinking the buzzer-beating game-winner to stun Korea, 77–75, during their FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup duel on Sept. 24, 2025, in Seremban, Malaysia.

Reyes led the Gilas Pilipinas Girls program to a historic win, rewarding them with their first-ever victory in any FIBA-sanctioned Division A tournament.

With only 7.7 seconds remaining and the score tied at 75-all, Gilas attempted a sneaky baseline play off the inbound, but their offensive scheme was perfectly read by Korea’s perimeter defense.

Without any wide-open trailers, Zia Onate rifled the pass to Makena Ramos, who quickly delivered the ball to Reyes during the hand-off situation.

Reyes had ample time to operate with four seconds on the game clock and opted for the higher-percentage play when she dribbled closer to her sweet spot near the free-throw line.

With 2.7 seconds left, Reyes lost Korea’s initial defender after a solid pump fake and calmly rose for a wide-open perimeter jumper.

Despite the pressure-packed, tense moment, Reyes found the bottom of the net and swished her shot with a feathery touch to give Gilas Pilipinas its first-ever Division A dub.

More importantly, the win not only skyrocketed the Gilas Girls to a historic breakthrough, but it also helped them qualify for the playoff round of the tournament, which will start today.

Reyes capped off her heroics with 16 big points, including the buzzer-beater, while Ella Smith top-scored for the young Filipina hoopers with 21 markers and seven rebounds.

On the other hand, the Korean national team received a monster outing from Lim Seun, who exploded for 31 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to help her squad clinch its first win of the tournament.

Laban Pilipinas! Puso!