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November 17, 2008
5-year program for women's basketball laid down
VAMC Reportorial Team
HERE'S a piece of good news for female basketball players of the country.
The Women's Philippine Basketball League (WPBL) is not just going to be a
one-conference affair but it's going to be a five-year long program to
sustain the growth of women's basketball in the country.
That was assured by PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad and Chairman Mikee
Romero of Harbour Centre.
"Dr. Romero is so determined top uplift the level of competition in women's
basketball that's why we plan to stage this kind of tournament for five
years so that female players will have a league of their own," said
Trinidad. "If we can help our male players there's no reason why can't we
help our female players."
Romero said he was elated with the support of various companies, saying:
"I'm thankful for the companies who came here to support our project. As I
said before, this is for the women's cause."
"It's high time that we give them an opportunity to play even after their
college days. Basketball is fun, let us support WPBL. The future of women's
basketball will start from this project," said Romero. "By reviving this
tournament, I'm sure we can put up a competitive team in the next SEA Games.
To add color to the revival of the league is the expected showdown between
fierce rival schools Ateneo and La Salle.
Nutri-C, one of the leading juice drinks in the country today, will have the
core of Ateneo as its players while Republic Flour Mills (RFM) of Joey
Concepcion, a long-time PBL supporter, will bankroll the participation of
the Lady Archers.
Joel Lopa of Nutri-C also lauded the effort of the PBL in reviving the
competition, saying: "With the revival of WPBL, I'm sure college players
will now have an extra motivation to work and play hard because they have
something to look up after their college days."
Smart Sports big boss Patrick "Pato" Gregorio said the revival of women's
basketball has been his dream even during his time as Executive Director of
the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
"Women's basketball needs a new direction and this was my priority project
before. With Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan as president of SBP, we are going to
support this project all the way," said Gregorio.
Aside from Nutri-C-Ateneo and RFM-La Salle, also confirmed to take part in
the tournament last played in 1999 are Smart Sports, Chito Narvasa's Muscle
Tape-Lyceum, Discovery Suite-RP women's team, Romero's Oracle Residences,
Bacchus Energy Drink and Ever Bilena of former PBL chairman Dioceldo Sy.
Smart Sports, according to Gregorio, has already made University of the
Philippine (UP) as its partner school while Oracle will UAAP champion Far
Eastern University as its partner.
Ever Bilena coach Patrick Aquino said they are targeting players from
University of Santo Tomas and other colleges to beef up their campaign.
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