THE FIRST Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) draft was held virtually last February 13, marking a big step forward for women’s basketball in the country. As the Philippines’ first professional women’s basketball league, the WNBL provides a wider platform and an avenue for female ballers to make a living by playing the game they love.
Among the 60 players given the opportunity to live the pro ball dream are Ateneo alumnae Pam Payac, Jollina Go, Cara Buendia, and Nicole Cancio. These former Lady Eagles will serve as pioneers in a league that presents an end goal for younger generations to pursue basketball at the end of their collegiate careers.
In a nutshell
With a vision to grow the women’s basketball landscape in the country, the National Basketball League (NBL) organized the WNBL to serve as the country’s premier women’s basketball league. It was launched last April 2019 and was set to feature a home and away format. However, due to unforeseen setbacks such as the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) only recognized the WNBL as a professional league in August 2020.
In a virtual press conference held last August 26, 2020, GAB Chairman Baham Mitra confirmed that the league format will be similar to the NBL, featuring teams that represent provinces, cities, and municipalities to give more exposure to homegrown players from the countryside.
Upon receiving recognition from GAB, the league held its inaugural draft online last February 13. Participating in the WNBL’s first official season are the Pacific Water Queens, the Glutagence Glow Boosters, the Parañaque Lady Aces, and the Quezon Lady Spartans. Payac, Go, and Buendia will play for Pacific Water, while Cancio will suit up for Gulatence Glow.
More than just basketball
The establishment of the WNBL presents a long list of advantages for the present and future of female basketball in the country. Prior to the WNBL’s launch, there were little to no options for female ballers to continue playing after collegiate careers. As a result, these athletes hung up their jerseys after college to pursue other career paths.
Because of the lack of a professional league, Go was ecstatic when she received the invitation to play for the Pacific Water Queens. “[The WNBL is] the dream! Now that we have a pro league to ourselves, we have something to look forward to after college. I accepted the invite because I didn’t want to let this opportunity slip away,” shared Go.
The WNBL has also presented female players with the opportunity to earn money while playing ball. Gone are the days when these players had to sacrifice their passion for basketball in order to earn a paycheck as the players’ salaries can now sustain their financial needs. “We’re expected to get a job and earn for ourselves. At this stage of our lives, we need to be able to invest. It’s refreshing to know that I will be able to play and have a feeling of security,” Cancio said.
“Now that we have a pro league for ourselves, we have something to look forward to right after college. I accepted the invite because I didn’t want to let this opportunity slip away.” – Jollina Go
However, more than the fruition of a dream to go pro and make a living out of playing basketball, the WNBL now serves as the pinnacle of success for young female ballers in the country. Players like Payac, Go, Buendia, and Cancio can now be recognized by the youth as their female role models, inspiring them to see basketball as a viable career path. “Aspiring lady ballers now have something to look forward to, and they now have hope that they can do something they’re good at,” shared Buendia.
Challenges alongside opportunities
Despite opening up a multitude of opportunities for female players, the WNBL still faces numerous challenges before the league can play its first game. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the WNBL players are struggling to stay fit due to their limited access to basketball courts and gyms. However, the former Lady Eagles have found temporary solutions to stay in shape.
With her father’s help, Cancio created a home gym which included dumbbells, barbells, and a multi-purpose power rack. Meanwhile, Buendia contacted her former strength and conditioning coach, Migs Aytona, to help her create a home workout program. As for Go and Payac, the duo practiced their shooting and worked on their conditioning individually in their own respective courts.
However, a bigger challenge for these players is the risk of contracting the virus once the on-site practices and games begin. To keep their families and loved ones safe, Payac, Buendia, and Go have decided to live together once the league starts. “We all have senior citizens in our house. We don’t want them to get infected, so we decided to lodge ourselves separately,” Buendia said.
“Aspiring lady ballers now have something to look forward to, and they now have hope that they can do something they’re good at.” – Cara Buendia
The future of WNBL
Despite the numerous challenges hounding the WNBL and its players, the inauguration of the league is a big step forward in uplifting women’s basketball in the country. The WNBL is seen as the present and future of basketball, as it gives current players the opportunity to play professionally while giving the younger generations a dream that they can aspire to reach.
Paving the way for future Filipina ballers, Cancio, Buendia, Go, and Payac’s journey in the new professional league is a testament to the grit and power that female athletes are capable of. With basketball being such a popular sport in the country, it’s about time to have a women’s professional basketball league in the Philippines.
