Both on top of their game, University of Santo Tomas head coach Haydee Ong and reigning UAAP women’s basketball tournament MVP Kayce Dela Rosa shared the same excitement following the addition of girls’ basketball in the UAAP. 

The league announced the debut of the senior high school (SHS) boys and girls’ competition in the second semester of action of the Season 87.

Following the rise of women's basketball in the collegiate up to the national level, more spaces are being opened to develop talents of younger girls across the country. 

The juniors boys’ basketball which is simultaneously featured at the same time as the seniors basketball in the first semester has been around for decades. 

Although opportunity didn’t arise for a girls counterpart, the UAAP is keen on honing more homegrown talents through the introduction of another tournament that will come in between the juniors and seniors levels.   

“I’m very happy kasi this Season 87 meron na ring girls’ basketball. Advocate talaga ako ng women’s basketball. Very, very important talaga to tap in ‘yung mga homegrown na nandito, hindi lang puro mga Fil-Ams. Not to down the [foreign] players [we have], of course, we just want more homegrown talents to develop, and later on [join] in our national team,” Ong said ahead of UST’s title defense. 

Ong steered the Growling Tigresses to their first title since 2006 after ending National University Lady Bulldogs' seven-year reign in women’s basketball last year. 

As if there was more to prove for the España squad’s women’s program, Ong guided UST to back-to-back gold medals in the 3x3 basketball also against NU in May in the second semester action. 

After sustained success in both tournaments, Ong and the Growling Tigresses kicked into gear right away and shifted their focus back to the 5x5 women’s hoops with a couple of preseason tournaments before capping it off with an overseas camp in Japan that lasted for 10 days. 

“I think palagi naman with our program ‘yung preparation very important for us. Complacency hindi pwede ‘yan kahit na nag-champion ka or hindi, you have to work harder pa rin. So itong Season 87, expect mo na there are more teams na lahat nag gear up, nagpalakas talaga, they recruited a lot of talents. Expected ‘yung magandang competition for women’s basketball,” said Ong.  

For 20-year-old MVP Dela Rosa, coming into the season knowing that women’s basketball has grown significantly and is reaching milestones with the inclusion of the girls’ division, playing has never gotten more exciting.

“Super happy na [they’re introducing the girls’ basketball] kasi more exposure and experience rin sa mga bata na gustong maglaro sa UAAP. Hindi lang here sa UAAP, even for Gilas Women. I think that would help them improve more as players,” said Dela Rosa, who was also named Rookie of the Year in her debut in Season 85 with the Ateneo Blue Eagles. 

Now inspiring a younger generation of female ballers, Dela Rosa is looking to showcase why women’s hoops is all the rage when the Blue Eagles open their campaign with more than just a Final Four appearance in mind this time. 

Ateneo has been on a bit of a streak itself following back-to-back semifinal finishes since Dela Rosa’s arrival to Katipunan, though it's been good enough for its program, there's nothing better than emerging on top of all competition. 

“Super excited coming into the season. Siyempre ine-expect ko na mahirap ‘yung mga games kasi siyempre mas [consistently] lumalakas ‘yung mga teams. We’ll do whatever it takes to achieve the goal,” Dela Rosa said.