Female athletes will have more options thanks to the Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL), the nation's first women's professional basketball league.
With the slogan "Ito ang liga ng bawat Filipina," the league–which has 14 teams made up of clubs, collegiate teams, and city-based teams–seeks to create a venue that develops and displays local talent.
Home for women’s basketball players
The WMPBL aims to provide local female basketball players with opportunities to continue playing the sport for years after their collegiate careers are over, as there are not many options for them to play after they finish their playing days in the UAAP and similar leagues.
Haydee Ong, the former head coach of the national team and UAAP champion tactician, was appointed commissioner of the WMBPL and will host an invitational tournament to kick off the league's first professional season.
“The foundation of this league is simple: to create a home for women’s basketball players here in our country,” said WMPBL president John Kallos.
“Our goal is ambitious, but we are optimistic that this will be the start of something beautiful for women’s basketball.”
Women’s basketball revolution
League owner Manny Pacquiao emphasized the significance of the new league, which is the women's equivalent of Pacquiao's own MPBL, in remarks to all 14 teams participating in the first invitational tournament.
The eight-division boxing champion stated that raising awareness of women's basketball in the Philippines was more important than merely hosting the competitions.
“This is not just a league, it is a revolution. A revolution that brings women’s basketball to the forefront…Celebrating the incredible talent, passion, and dedication of Filipina athletes across the nation, today, we say to every Filipina athlete: It is your time to shine," he said.
