MANILA--The WMPBL quickly found a replacement for Haydee Ong as commissioner, and she, too, is a known trailblazer of women's basketball.
The regional league announced on Tuesday that coach Mau Belen will take over Ong's role on an interim basis just in time for the start of the new season on Sunday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan.
Belen first became known when coach Chot Reyes tapped her as an assistant coach for TNT in the PBA back in 2021.
The Tropang 5G then assigned Belen as the head coach of their 3x3 team in the defunct PBA 3x3, and under her watch, the team known as the Triple Giga became the most successful club in the league, racking six conference championships, including the grand slam in the 2022-2023 season.
When the PBA dissolved its 3x3 division in 2024, Belen founded Halfcourt Group, which continued to play on in various 3x3 events with the core of her TNT players.
Now, Belen will lead the charge in the WMPBL, which will begin its second season following a successful debut run last year.
