Haydee Ong, who calls the shots for defending UAAP women’s basketball champion UST Tigresses, has been appointed commissioner of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL).–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses coach Haydee Ong is eager to provide an avenue for the country’s women’s basketball players with the help of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL), which inaugurates on January 19, 2025.

Ong was named WMPBL commissioner to oversee the first women’s basketball league of MPBL founder and former Senator Manny Pacquiao, who formed the home-and-away format tournament for the homegrown talents seven years ago.

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“Yung love ko talaga for women’s basketball, I think, yun yung bakit ko tinanggap is to give a new platform for women’s basketball after collegiate talaga,” the UAAP Season 86 champion coach told reporters. “The more league na ganito, mas marami tayong made-develop for the women’s national team.”

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The WMPBL commissioner seeks to “start small” as she eyes eight teams from four UAAP schools and four ball clubs to represent the Local Government Units in a single-round robin format, where the top four teams will advance to the semifinals.

Games will be held at Filoil EcoOil Center as Ong won’t use the home-and-away format in the league’s inauguration, putting a premium first on the officiating — also hoping to have more female referees.

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“Gusto kong makita talaga magandang officiating. That’s why, on the technical side, talagang aayusin namin para maganda yung kakalabasan ng mga laro ng babae,” said Ong. “Talagang gusto ko paglaruin yung mga babae to showcase their skills.”

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“May mga kontrata na puproteksyunan yung babae talaga doon sa mga organizer na ayoko ng may mga na nababalita na sugal-sugal. So, pinatanggal ko yung Fiba livestats dito sa inaugural.”

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Ong admitted that it won’t be easy balancing the WMPBL and her coaching gig at UST with the Tigresses booking a spot in the Final Four with a 9-1 record in their title-retention bid.

But she’s happy with the support shown by the school, which will be one of the eight teams in the WMPBL with Allana Lim and Arsenio Dysangco calling the shots.

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“I’m so happy kasi tinext ako ni Father Rodel (Cansancio) and he congratulated me and sabi niya all for women’s basketball, UST is behind you. So, ganun ka-suporta yung UST for women’s basketball,” she said. “This is not only for UST anymore. Bigger picture talaga after collegiate nung mga bata saan sila pupunta, na pwede na maging career. Ito na yung unang platform para sa kanila.”

Ong is confident that the WMPBL will be the home of the women’s basketball players once they graduate from the collegiate level.

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“I think with the support of Senator Manny na naniwala siya na marami ng kababaihan na gusto maglaro ng basketballvoslot,” Ong said “Doon sa mga private sectors and LGU, pag kinausap namin, because everybody will give their letter of intent and we will filter out kung sino talaga yung mga tao na matitino, na hindi lang fly-by-night na gagawa ng team. Marami pang mangyayari but on the inaugural stage ng WMPBL, yun yung plano muna is to start small from January to April.”

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