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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider WMPBL begins inaugural tournament

WMPBL begins inaugural tournament

Published Jan 17, 2025 06:48 am

At A Glance

  • The Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) is set to make history as it begins its ambitious journey of providing a home for Filipino women's hoopers Sunday, Jan. 19, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.

Games Sunday
(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena)
2 p.m. - Opening Ceremony
4 p.m. - UST vs Discovery
6 p.m. - PSP vs Imus-SIS VBL
8 p.m. - Cavite-Tol vs New Zealand-Bluefire



The Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) is set to make history as it begins its ambitious journey of providing a home for Filipino women’s hoopers Sunday, Jan. 19, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.

UAAP87 WBB G2 - Coach Haydee Ong-4366 (1).jpg
WMPBL commissioner Haydee Ong (UAAP Media)

With the tagline “Ito ang liga ng bawat Filipina,” the league aims to establish a platform that nurtures and showcases local talent, featuring 14 teams comprised of college squads, clubs, and city-based teams.

“The foundation of this league is simple: to create a home for women’s basketball players here in our country,” said WMPBL President John Kallos. “Our goal is ambitious, but we are optimistic that this will be the start of something beautiful for women’s basketball."

The inaugural tournament, supported by Manny Pacquiao, Senator Francis Tolentino, and the MPBL Partylist, will feature two groups of teams.

Group A will include Discovery Perlas, FEU Lady Tamaraws, CEU Lady Scorpions, Cavite Tol Patriots, PSP Gymers, Solar Home Suns, and the Pilipinas Navy Aguilas.

Meanwhile, Group B will be composed of the UST Growling Tigresses, EZ Jersey Relentless, San Juan Lady Knights, New Zealand Bluefire Valkyries, Kalos PH-Philippine Navy Lady Sailors, and Galeries Tower Highrisers.

The tournament format will feature a single-round robin eliminations.

The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, where the top two seeds will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage. The semifinals and finals will be played as best-of-three series.

Games in this tournament supported by Uratex, Red Dynasty, Gotobox, Gerry’s Grill, Prettiest, Team Graphite, Evo Performance Helmets, Ryzen Helmets, Katinko, Dorayd Balls, Sogo Hotel, Bosny Paint, and Discovery Perlas will be held every Sunday and Wednesday, airing live on IBC 13, as well as on the league’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The opening ceremony, graced by WMPBL Chairman Manny Pacquiao, is set for 2:00 p.m. at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.

Following the formalities, three games will kick off the season.

The UST Growling Tigresses will face Discovery Perlas at 4:00 p.m., followed by PSP Gymers taking on Imus-SIS VBL, and Cavite-Tol Patriots going head-to-head with New Zealand Bluefire Valkyries.

“Yung love ko talaga for women’s basketball, I think yun yung rason kung bakit ko tinanggap [ang pagiging commissioner],” shared WMPBL Commissioner Haydee Ong, a former national team head coach. “At the same time, siyempre, the more tournaments or leagues like this, mas marami tayong made-develop for the national team.”

The WMPBL is more than just a competition—it’s a movement to redefine the future of women’s basketball in the Philippines.

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