As WMPBL Invitational looms, Haydee Ong hopes for sustainability for women’s basketball

At the turn of the New Year, women’s basketball is set to take center stage in the Philippines as the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) warms up for its inaugural season with an invitational tournament in January.

 

The latest foray into providing a platform for women basketball players after their collegiate careers, WMBPL Commissioner Haydee Ong said that it is pertinent that they work for the long-term rather than just one big spurt before dying out.

 

That is, there have been multiple tries at forming a professional league for women in the country. But none have yet to be sustainable and flourishing for more than a couple of years.

 

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So for Ong, it was something that she needed to underscore to WMPBL backer Manny Pacquiao. More than just a quick show of force, it was something that needed consistency.

 

“Number one kasi, bago ako pumasok sa WMPBL, sinabi ko kay Senator Manny Pacquiao, I don’t want this to be parang sa umpisa lang maganda. I want sustainability. Sabi ko, I’m willing to help the WMPBL na supportahan niyo hanggang limang taon and we’ll see after that saan na mapupunta yung liga,” Ong told One Sports. 

 

“At least yun yung parang basis ko na from my first year to the five, tignan natin yung growth ng women’s basketball. Tutulungan ko, aayusin natin para magkaron tayo ng magandang program,” she added.

 

Ong’s UST Growling Tigresses fell in a competitive three-game series against the NU Lady Bulldogs, and despite being on the losing end of the competition, Ong saw the growth of women’s basketball.

 

As evidenced by bigger crowds in their games, the UST women's basketball coach hopes to see the same effect manifest itself in the WMPBL. When the league decided to do tuneup games in UST, there were already crowds.

 

“Actually nung nag-tune up kami sa UST, I was happy kasi ang daming tao na nanonood. So sana, with this UAAP effect, mas ma-translate natin,” she said.

 

For Ong, it was important to highlight that the WMPBL — like the UAAP — would offer competitive games. More than just getting teams that aren’t able to field quality players, it was all about parity for the long-time basketball coach. 

 

“I think kailangan lang ma-aware 'yung mga tao na 'yung competition ng WMPBL, hindi masyado magkakalayo and the fact na 'yung mga UAAP players na ga-graduate and 'yung mga recent graduate makikita nila na hindi lang women’s competition na blow out game,” said Ong. 

 

“I want to be 'yung mga teams balanced siya para maganda panoorin talaga ng mga tao. This is one way of translating na maganda 'yung makikita natin na maging competitive 'yung lahat ng mga teams na kasali,” she continued.

 

A total of 14 teams will be participating in the inaugural invitational tiff — including four teams from the collegiate ranks.

 

The WMPBL Invitational is slated to begin on Sunday, January 19.