After a bronze finish in the UAAP Season 87 women’s football tournament, the University of Santo Tomas Lady Booters are set to battle out in their first preseason quest in the inaugural Philippine Football Federation - Philippine Women's League (PWL) at the recently-dawned SM Mall of Asia Sky football pitch in Pasay.

The Lady Booters will open their campaign against national team players Hali Long, Cam Rodriguez, Inna Palacios and the whole of the Kaya F.C.-Iloilo squad on Saturday, March 22.

UST will compete in the six-team pocket tourney alongside the collegiate team University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and pro clubs Stallion Laguna F.C., Makati F.C., and the newly formed Capital1 Solar Strikers.

Beyond improving their game ahead of the season, head coach Marjo Allado viewed this opportunity as both a learning experience and a chance to promote women's football.

“Good experience para sa girls dahil makakalaro nila ‘yong mga national team players, mga may experience sa higher level of football,” Allado told TomasinoWeb.

Through the PWL, the team also aims to discover new talents who can eventually play for the España-based squad in the future.

“Aside from joining the competition, ‘yong main purpose din ni UST women’s football is to promote football dito sa country para ma-inspire pa ‘yong madaming girls na maglalaro. At the same time, kapag naglalaro ka dito sa PWL, live streamed siya, so makikita ka ng ibang mga bata sa probinsya,” he added.

The tournament will follow a double-round robin format, with their second game scheduled against the Stallions on March 30, followed by a match against Makati F.C. on April 6.

They will face the Fighting Maroons on April 12, and wrap up their first round with a game against the Solar Strikers on May 3.

Allado also commended the creation of the new football pitch at the rooftop of the SM Mall of Asia which, according to him, can help elevate the growing sport in the country. The facility is also considered to be a FIFA-standard pitch and can accommodate 1,800 spectators.

“Marami ng options ‘yong mga teams kung saan pwede mag-training kapag naglalaro, tsaka hindi na mahihirapan ‘yong Philippine Football Federation na maghanap kasi sa MOA madaming manonood din kasi mall siya,” he said.

PWL is only one of the few commercial women's football leagues in the country, with many hoping for more recognition to the budding women's football community in the Philippines.