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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Fil-Am Chanelle Molina hopes to take Filipino, Hawaiian roots to WNBA

Fil-Am Chanelle Molina hopes to take Filipino, Hawaiian roots to WNBA

Published Feb 25, 2021 11:51 am
FILIPINO ROOTS - Hawaiian-born basketball standout Chanelle Molina is close to making history as the first full-blooded Filipino to play in the WNBA after signing a training camp contract with 2012 WNBA champions Indiana Fever. (Photo from Washington State University Cougars' website)

Filipino-American baller Chanelle Molina will be representing two countries as she tries to work her way into the WNBA.

Molina, in a media availability Wednesday morning, expressed eagerness in bannering both the Philippines and Hawaii after signing a training camp contract with 2012 WNBA champions Indiana Fever.

And Molina might make history as the first full-blooded Filipino -- the closest one perhaps --  to suit up in the WNBA.

"To be the first WNBA Filipino baller, it's amazing opportunity. And I'm honored to have the chance to be that," said Molina.  "Very excited to represent my culture and like I said, I'm honored to be that role model for all those aspiring to be in my position and y'know, wanting to play in high level. Everything is an honor and I'm glad in representing my community."

Though born and raised in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, Molina is proud of her Filipino roots.

The WNBA prospect recalled that her mother from Quezon City moved to the US at age five while her Ilocos Norte-native father migrated to Hawaii at age 15.

Even if she has never set foot in the Philippines, Molina's goals include sporting the Gilas Pilipinas jersey soon and visiting home country at the right time.

And she's just as proud of her Hawaiian representation.

"It's the same with the Filipino community. Coming from Hawaii, that side of my culture too. Even though I'm not Hawaiian or anything else, I was born and raised there," said the 22-year-old Molina.

A product of Washington State University, Molina is playing her first professional basketball league with the Norrköping Dolphins in the Svenska Basketligan Dam in Sweden.

The 5-foot-9 Fil-Am guard is averaging 17.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists to help the fifth-seeded Dolphins rally a 12-6 record.

Molina is expected to finish her Sweden stint before training camp with the Fever begins in April.

At Washington State, the Kona-native baller posted norms of 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 asissts to lead the Cougars' in statistical points.

But prior to collegiate tilt, the Konaweana High School standout was ranked as a five-star recruit after becoming a two-time state champion, three-time Gatorade State Player of the Year, and was inducted into the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor in 2016. 

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