THE country’s first professional women’s basketball league is ready to get the action going this weekend.

The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) is to open shop on July 17 at the Bulacan Capitol Gym in Malolos City, ushering a new dawn in women’s sports in the Philippines.

For its debut pro season, officially referred to as the Pia Cayetano WNBL Season 2021, the league will have five competing teams, namely the Glutagence Glow Boosters, Pacific Water Queens, Paranaque Lady Aces, Taguig Lady Generals and STAN Quezon Lady Spartan.

WNBL Executive Vice-President Rhose Montreal said it has been a long time coming for the start of their maiden pro season and they are determined to see it through, putting premium, among other things, on the safety of all participants.

“We are confident and ready to start on July 17. The protocols are in place and we are constantly working in coordination with different agencies and groups to have a safe playing environment,” said Ms. Montreal in a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

“The ultimate goal for this season is to start the league with all of us negative from COVID-19, and finishing the season and crowning a champion with us still free from COVID,” she added.

The WNBL season will be played in an open circuit setup with movements of participants limited to home-game venue-home.

Teams will play in a double round-robin elimination phase for spots in the playoffs.

For Sen. Cayetano, to whom the debut season is named after, the creation of the WNBL is a welcome development in further promoting women in sports.

“I certainly welcome this as it provides opportunities for women athletes to continue pursuing their dreams. And it’s a good platform to inspire young girls and for them to feel empowered in doing what they are passionate about,” said Ms. Cayetano, who was also present at the WNBL press conference.

She went on to say that the league must make sure that all stakeholders are on the same page on what the WNBL wants to achieve and do their respective parts to ensure its success.

Opening ceremonies of the WNBL will begin at 2:30 p.m., to be broadcast over Solar Sports and the NBL/WNBL Facebook page. There will be a virtual parade of athletes.

The league will also enshrine the first members of the WNBL Hall of Fame and will award citations to individuals and groups who have helped grow women’s basketball in the country throughout the years.

Opening WNBL game will feature Glutagence versus Pacific Water at 4 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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