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| Haydee Ong resigned as WMPBL commissioner just a week before the start of the league's sophomore staging. UAAP Season 88 Media Team (file photo) |
MANILA—While everyone is basking in the glory of Gilas Pilipinas' "her-storic" silver medal finish in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup women's division, a huge blow could hamper the current resurgence of the Philippine women's basketball scene.
The WMPBL is facing crucial manpower issues one week before the start of its second season as key officials led by commissioner Haydee Ong tendered their resignations.
Ong was the first to call it quits, citing "irreconcilable differences in making critical and major decisions for the league" as the main reason.
"When I accepted this role, I had one vision: to create a professional platform for Filipina basketball players to showcase their talent. However, over the past several months, it has become increasingly clear that the current environment within the league's management has made that mission impossible to fulfill," Ong, the concurrent head coach of the University of Santo Tomas women's basketball team, said in a statement on Sunday.
"I am stepping down not to abandon the sport but to preserve the values I have spent my entire career upholding. I remain committed to promoting women's professional basketball."
The day after, deputy commissioner Arsenio Dysangco, legal counsel Fatima Tolentino, technical head Editha Botecario, and executive secretary Fatima Pumaren followed suit.
"Our decision to step down is in support of the issues highlighted by the commissioner, which have made the continued performance of our professional duties untenable," the said officials said in a joint statement.
While the WMPBL, a brainchild of sporting icon Manny Pacquiao to be the female version of the men's MPBL, is scrambling to look for people to step in even on an interim basis, the league intends to push through with the start of the new season on Sunday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan.
"Walang mababago sa ating schedule at paghahanda. Ang aming dedikasyon na magbigay ng de-kalidad na entablado para sa ating mga Filipina baller ay nananatiling matatag at hindi matitinag ng anumang pagbabago sa liderato," the regional league said in a separate statement.
"Kasalukuyan nang kumikilos ang liga para magtalaga ng isang interim commissioner na pansamantalang mamumuno upang matiyak ang smooth operations ng mga susunod na aktibidad."
At least two teams, Caloocan and Batangas City, publicly announced that they will stay on despite Ong and her group's resignation.
The Binan Angels, which came on as an expansion franchise like the Lady Kankaloo, are expected to still join being the hosts of the opening ceremonies.
Other teams set to join WMPBL's Season 2 are Quezon City, Rizal, and non-city based team Queenpin.
Season 1 last year saw the first quadruple-double by a female pro player in Philippine history through Stef Berberabe, formerly of Tagaytay now playing for Rockingham in Australia.
The Bluefire Valkyries ruled the inaugural staging, giving Cholo Villanueva, who also coaches Batangas City's men's team, his first ever championship as head coach.
Batangas City's Afril Bernardino, a member of Gilas' silver-winning team in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup and also the tournament's Mythical Three, was the season MVP.
