By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
FILIPINO women ballers get to showcase what they can do as the National Basketball League (NBL) launches its women’s league this weekend.
To fire off on Sunday at the Hagonoy Sports Complex in Taguig City, the WNBL builds on its thrust of giving opportunities to homegrown talents from various parts of the country following the launch of the men’s league prior.
For the inaugural season of the WNBL, seven teams will be competing, namely the Parañaque Lady Aces, Laguna Lady Pistons, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Taguig Lady Generals, Pampanga Delta Amazons, and the Cleon and Clyde Lady Snipers.
The teams are boosted by former and current national team players as well as ex-collegiate stars from various women’s leagues including the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the NCAA South.
Organizers of the league said the WNBL is also geared towards aiding the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in identifying talents as well as honing them to shore up women’s basketball in the country.
“We promised that in the NBL our approach is holistic, meaning we would not only cater to men. Through it we hope to support the programs of the federation (SBP) in discovering talents in women’s basketball as well. We will make sure that the WNBL will be different and something that Filipino basketball fans across the country will like,” said NBL chairman and president Celso Mercado at league’s formal launch on Thursday.
WNBL games will be shown live on Solar Sports, NBL Philippines Facebook page, and Net 25 Facebook page, and on a delayed basis on GMA News TV International, ensuring steady exposure for the league and the players not only in the country but also abroad.
Playing in the opener on Sunday at 1 p.m. are the Parañaque Lady Aces and Laguna Lady Pistons.
