Draft:Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
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Upcoming season or competition: 2025 WMPBL Invitational Tournament | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 24, 2024 |
| Founder | Manny Pacquiao |
| First season | 2025 |
| Commissioner | Haydee Ong |
| Motto | Ang Liga Ng Bawat Pilipina (The League of Every Filipina) |
| No. of teams | 14 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Headquarters | Pasig |
| Continent | FIBA Asia (Asia) |
The Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) is an upcoming women's amateur basketball league in the Philippines consisting of fourteen teams. It serves as the women's counterpart of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The league launched on November 2024 by boxing legend and former Senator Manny Pacquiao and will be the fourth league under the Maharlika Pilipinas name, following the men's MPBL, the Junior MPBL, and the volleyball counterpart Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA).
History
[edit]Background and establishment
[edit]Following the success of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, Manny Pacquiao expanded on its grassroots format by creating new leagues under the Maharlika Pilipinas name. After the launch of the Junior MPBL in June 2023, Pacquiao founded the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association in October that year, the first to feature female athletes.
Reports of a direct women's counterpart were first published in October 2024, when Haydee Ong, head coach of the UST Growling Tigresses basketball team, accepted an offer to become the league's inaugural commissioner.[1][2][3] The league formally launched on November 24, 2024 at the Winford Hotel in Manila, with Ong stating that "women's basketball now has evolved into a more exciting brand compared to the previous era", alluding to the Caitlin Clark effect seen in the United States. Although the league initially targeted eight to ten teams for the start of league play, fourteen ended up turning in. The league will begin play with the 2025 Invitational Tournament on January 19, 2025 to be held at either the Paco Arena in Manila or the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. The league then plans to transition to professional status by mid-2025, during which it is expected to run its first full season.[4][5]
Teams
[edit]For the 2025 Invitational Tournament, the league will feature fourteen teams.[4][5]
| Team | Locality / College / Company | Founded | Joining | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavite 'Tol Patriots | Cavite | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| CEU Lady Scorpions | Centro Escolar University | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| Discovery Perlas | Discovery | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| FEU Lady Tamaraws | Far Eastern University | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| Galeries Tower Manila | Manila | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| Imus Lady Magdalo | Imus, Cavite | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| New Zealand Blue Fire | None | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| Philippine Navy Lady Sailors | Philippine Navy | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| Pilipinas Aguilas | None | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| PSP Gymers | PSP Fitness Gym | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| Relentless EZ Jersey | Relentless Basketball | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| San Juan Lady Knights | San Juan | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| Solar Home Suns | Solar Home Supplies and Services | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
| UST Growling Tigresses | University of Santo Tomas | 2024 | 2025 | TBA |
Roster regulations
[edit]For the 2025 Invitational Tournament, all players must be at least 18 years old. Teams will also be able to have one import and up to two Filipino-foreigner players. In addition, each team is limited to two players who play for the Philippines women's national basketball team. Once the league turns professional, the age requirement will be increased to 21.[4]
Season format
[edit]Invitational
[edit]The league will divide the teams into two groups. Each group will then go through a three-round playoff bracket to determine the group winners who will face off in a one-game playoff to determine the league champion.[4]
Commissioners
[edit]| No. | Commissioner | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | ||
| 1 | Haydee Ong | October 2024[1] | incumbent |
See also
[edit]- Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League – The league's men's counterpart
- Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association – The league's volleyball counterpart
References
[edit]- ^ a b Valencia, Justin (October 27, 2024). "Haydee Ong aims to elevate women's basketball as WMPBL commissioner". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Matel, Philip (October 28, 2024). "Haydee Ong takes on new role as WMPBL commissioner". RAPPLER. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Morales, Luisa (October 28, 2024). "For love of women's basketball, UST's Haydee Ong takes on commissioner role in WMPBL". onesports.ph. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Morales, Luisa (November 25, 2024). "'Liga ng Bawa't Pilipina': What to expect from the inaugural WMPBL tournament". onesports.ph. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Dongiapon, Rob Andrew (November 25, 2024). "WMPBL aims to bring 'Caitlin Clark effect' in PH women's basketball". RAPPLER. Retrieved November 26, 2024.