WNBL turns professional after a year

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Now is the time of celebration for all Pinay hoopers and aspirants out there.

The female counterpart of the National Basketball League (NBL) was just granted a professional status promotion following the approval of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).

“Today is the day for our Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) players, the women players who have been dreaming of playing in a professional women’s league,” said NBL executive vice president Rhose Montreal.

Debuting last year, the WNBL had only seven teams during its opening: Parañaque, Laguna, Philippine Navy, Philippine Airforce, Pampanga, and Cleon and Clyde.

After WNBL’s professional status was granted, more teams will be looking to participate and help other Filipina ballers achieve their biggest dreams.

“Since my pro league days, I believe that there is a surplus of talented women ballers in the Philippines. And for us, we don’t care about their gender preferences, we don’t care whether they sport short hair or long hair, we don’t care whether they wear pekpek shorts or long shorts. But for us we want to sell their skills,” Montreal said proudly.

WNBL’s progression proved to be a boost for the women’s basketball scene in the country wherein the PH competes in FIBA and various tournaments but did not have a specific training ground and pro league aside from the UAAP.

“Today is a very special day not for the three of us, not for the management of the NBL, but today is the day for all our homegrown players,” Montreal added.