The Philippines' latest try at establishing a pro women’s basketball league kicks off with the WMPBL invitational tournament next year.
Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has began his foray into women’s basketball with the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL), which aims to establish a successful and sustainable professional league for Filipina hoopers.
With scarce opportunities for women’s basketball players after their collegiate stints, with only the national team being readily available when they exhaust their playing years in the UAAP and the like, the WMPBL is looking to create opportunities for local female ballers to continue with the sport years after.
Former national team head coach and UAAP champion tactician Haydee Ong was named commissioner of the WMBPL, and is set to prelude the league’s inaugural professional season with an invitational tournament slated for January next year.
Here’s what to expect in the WMPBL’s initial Invitational tournament:
1. Four collegiate teams banner 14-squad competition
Expect high-level basketball from the get-go as current collegiate stars are expected to strut their stuff in the invitational tournament.
Before the WMPBL officially goes pro in June 2025, college players will have the chance to test their skills among club teams and LGU-based squads, with four college teams set to compete in the invitational tournament.
Commissioner Ong’s very own UST Growling Tigresses will be joined by fellow UAAP teams FEU Lady Tamaraws and the Adamson Lady Falcons carrying their respective commercial sponsors in the tournament.
With a UAAP championship under their belt and at least a stepladder semifinal appearance in the ongoing UAAP Season 87, the Growling Tigresses will be sure to give the other teams a run for their money.
Meanwhile, FEU and Adamson are out to sharpen iron with iron, going up against older players in the 14-team tournament. The CEU Lady Scorpions are the other collegiate team.
Other teams set to banner the WMPBL in its first competition are Discovery Perlas, Imus Lady Magdalo, PSY Gymers, San Juan Lady Knights, Relentless EZ Jersey, Go For Gold Philippine Navy Lady Sailors, Galeries Tower Manila, New Zealand Blue Fire, and the Solar Home Suns.
2. Two groups to have own champions who will compete in a one-game finale
After exceeding their initial number of teams in the warm-up competition, the WMPBL will be dividing the 14 teams into two groups of seven teams each.
Then, each group will have its own quarterfinals, semifinals, and Finals to crown a champion from each side. The top-two teams will then battle it out in a one-game finale to become the first-ever WMPBL Invitational Tournament Champions.
3. All for pride
Since it is an invitational tournament, there is currently no prize pool for the competition.
However, there will be pride at stake as teams are slated to assemble the best of the best in women’s basketball in the country in a competition that will be streamed live on social media.
From the get-go, the competition has garnered a lot of traction with multiple teams expressing interest to play in the league. Currently, the teams are holding tryouts for their squads before the tournament unfurls next year.
4. Eligibility rules
As for who can play in the inaugural WMBPL tiff, the Commissioner’s Office has set parameters for each of the squads.
First, all players in the invitational should be above 18 — this will be changed to above 21 once the league turns pro in June next year.
Teams will also be allowed to field one import in their lineup, for Filipino-Foreign players, squads can enlist up to two.
To ensure parity, the league will also impose that each team only have two Gilas Pilipinas Women players on their roster, which also gives more opportunity for other LGU-based and club-based players to get into the lineup.
The rules also help strengthen the league’s goal of developing more players for the national team pool.
“We are happy to announce that SBP and Gilas Pilipinas, and the WMPBL are in one vision and mission to strengthen the women’s basketball league,” said WMBPL President John Andrew Kallos.
Other details are expected to be finalized, such as venue, and game day schedules, closer to the league’s tip off date on January 19, 2025.