WNBL earns significant interest after obtaining professional status

Interest in the National Women’s Basketball League has grown since the Games and Entertainment Board recently granted it professional status.

WNBL Executive Vice President Rhose Montreal said that around 327 players have requested next month’s draft, while 15-17 teams have asked about joining the planned start of January.

But Montreal said they want to make sure everything goes smoothly in the first WNBL tournament as a professional league.

“We are still in the evaluation process, because now that we are a professional league, kailangan na po natin salain. Kailangan na po natin i-filter, ”Montreal said at Tuesday’s online session of the Philippine Sports Writers Association Forum.

Montreal expects 10-12 teams to pass qualifying for the WNBL season as the league continues to accept draft applications through Sept. 30.

The league will have a selection period from October 1 to 10, followed by a combined draft under a bubble configuration from October 20 to 22 and a virtual draft on October 30.

Between 10 and 12 teams are expected to achieve the grade once the WNBL can begin its first professional season.

Bea Daez-Fabros, a former University of the Philippines and national team player who was named an ambassador for the WNBL, said the WNBL’s professional status has given women a good mood.

“It’s about time. For all the players, this has always been a dream: to have a professional league,” said Daez-Fabros.

“There is no apprehension between us players. Everything has been emotion. Everyone is trying to get in shape even from their homes. Even the elderly (in their forties) are coming out of retirement, ”she added.