Philippines Women beat Senegal 79-75 in the Olympic Games on 20 August 2026, a result that came after both sides had already tasted defeat in the opening rounds. The hosts had lost 38-85 to Canada the day before, while Senegal fell 65-79 to Mexico on the same evening. By then the mood was heavy, and this match gave them something to hold onto.
The game swung back and forth, and here's the thing — it was never really about who dominated the boards, though Senegal pulled down 35 rebounds to the Philippines' 20. The visitors won the battle on the offensive glass 16-5, but the hosts kept finding ways to score. The Philippines shot 12 three-pointers from 29 attempts, while Senegal managed only 5 from 16.
To be fair, Senegal made their living at the free-throw line, converting 20 of 24 attempts. The hosts were less reliable from distance, hitting just 7 of 16. But the extra possessions from offensive rebounds and the three-point shooting gave the Philippines the edge when it mattered. Things came to a head in the second half, and the visitors couldn't close it out.
The statistics tell a story of two different approaches. The Philippines recorded 22 assists to Senegal's 13, moving the ball more fluidly. Both sides committed 16 turnovers and each blocked 3 shots. The visitors had more steals with 8 to the hosts' 7, but the ball movement made the difference in the final tally.
Field goal efficiency favoured the hosts, who made 30 of 54 attempts compared to Senegal's 25 from 66. The visitors had more volume but weren't as clinical. This result extends the Philippines' competitive spirit, even if their Olympic campaign started with losses to Canada and Mexico.
The 4-point margin reflects how close this contest was. Neither team pulled away convincingly, and the Philippines held their nerve when Senegal pressed. It was a game decided by moments — the three-point shooting, the ball movement, and the ability to finish under pressure rather than who controlled the paint.