As the Women’s National Basketball League [WNBL] virtually held their first ever draft last February 13,  history was created which promises to be one of the stepping stones of Philippine Women’s Basketball.

Aspirants from all over the country were hoping to be part of the first professional women’s basketball league here in the Philippines. But only six teams participated in the draft, leaving other hopefuls as free agents.

Thomasian Pride

Four of the historic draftees are of Thomasian blood, picked highest of those four is Joy Galicia who was selected 16th overall by the Parañaque Lady Aces. The forward who was recently a member of the Discovery Perlas Pilipinas is joined by former Tigress, Jhenn Angeles [guard] who was picked 23rd overall by the same team. 

Karla Manuel was picked one slot before fellow Thomasian, Carol Sanggalang. Manuel was picked 21st overall by Stan Quezon Lady Spartans while Sanggalang was picked 22nd overall by Glutagence Glow Boosters. Manuel and Sangalang were also a part of Discovery Perlas Pilipinas where they honed their skills for the hope to be ready for the professional level.

In an exclusive interview with TomasinoWeb, one of the draftees in Carol Sangalang stated that the WNBL has given hope to aspiring female basketball players in the country. 

“I feel happy and blessed…Finally, we’re able to continue playing the sport that we love even after college. Nagkaroon ng hope ang mga [women] players to pursue their dreams even more,” she said. 

The Women’s National Basketball League, or WNBL is the first ever professional basketball league for women in the Philippines. Prior to this, college players in the country were forced to give up their hoop dreams, or go overseas in order to pursue it. 

Despite being part of history, Sangalang still took her time to thank her roots way back in Espana.

“I’m especially honored to be one of the pioneers for the women’s league. I am proud that I was able to represent UST because I wouldn’t be able to reach my dreams without the school’s support,” Sangalang said. 

“I also can’t wait to compete with my former teammates and other talented players. I’m excited to be in a different environment since I am the only UST player on our team,”  she added, with all three former Thomasians being drafted into separate teams. 

Going back to her first love 

Given that this is the first professional basketball league for women here in the country, most of the draftees have gone into career paths outside of basketball. 

In fact, the first pick of the draft, Dra. Fille Cainglet had been in the operating room in the UERM hospital by the time of the draft, wherein in an interview, she stated she was on duty when her name was called as the first pick. 

Sangalang is no different, just like the former UP star, she had chosen to take on a different path. Currently she is enrolled in the UST Graduate School where she is taking up a Master’s Degree in Developmental Studies. 

“When I heard na magkakaroon na ng professional league for women’s, hindi na ako naghesitate at nagpasa ako agad. Passion ko talaga ang basketball and I really want to continue playing,” Sangalang said.

But just like many others, she did not hesitate to go back to her passion when the WNBL came with an opportunity to play professional basketball in the women’s ranks. 

“Balancing my studies while playing basketball was never a problem because kailangan lang talaga marunong ka mag-manage ng oras,” she said.

Indeed this is just the beginning for aspiring Filipina ballers. For Philippine basketball, this is history made. For women, this is just a stepping stone. A start of a new era in the country, where men aren’t the only ones who can dominate basketball. A path to women empowerment, where people can embrace the fact that men are not the only ones who can play at a high level. Anton Jenard Villegas 

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Over five months since its original inception, the Teletigers Esports Club’s Valorant roster will be entering a new season of collegiate eSports with a new look squad. 

In a Facebook post yesterday, Feb. 17, the Espana-based eSports club announced the arrival of Yuan “Goope” De Guzman, Carl “ShoXDart” Cunanan and Clarence “eNcesane” Palmos. 

The three new arrivals will also be replacing original members in TGR ShadowRazed, TGR Zllee and TGR Heize, who all stepped down for private reasons according to team captain Jude “Exia” Rabang. 

In an exclusive interview with TomasinoWeb, Rabang mentioned the improvement of the roster, stating its potential to garner more accolades in the upcoming season. 

“With the new additions I can see the team garnering a lot more achievements. As the captain, I can see the potential that this team has and it’s ability to take the top,” he said. 

Rabang also added the team’s ongoing preparations, which he remarked as another sign of the team’s potential. 

“Right now, I would say that we are doing good as we are doing scrimmages against top tier teams and playing a lot of games to improve ourselves. Compared to our last roster, I can say that the current team has a lot more potential and I can feel a lot more dedication to the game,” he added.

Despite the potential, however, the captain was also adamant about the lack of chemistry at first, which they were able to remedy eventually. 

“When the new additions to the team just started, I think that it is normal for the chemistry to be not that good,  but in time the team has started to link up together and I think right now we are now comfortable to play with each other,” he said.

Valorant is a free-to-play first person shooter game released by League of Legends developer Riot Games. While there are no solid numbers yet for the player count, it was noted that the game had nearly 3 million players active during its closed beta testing period. 

The Teletigers are set to compete once more next month, wherein their revamped roster will have their first taste of action in the collegiate leagues. 

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As collegiate sports is incapacitated by the pandemic and the University continues to recover from controversy, the UST Golden Tigresses have found a silver lining as they secured the services of a high school volleyball standout in Ypril Tapia. 

 Tapia, an 18 year-old open hitter listed at 5’4” was confirmed as a new member of the UST Golden Tigresses last August and is set to debut in the upcoming season 83 of the UAAP despite the uncertainties presented by the pandemic.

Humble beginnings

In an exclusive interview with TomasinoWeb, Tapia shared that she started playing volleyball “just for the fun” with her friends before eventually discovering a love for the game. 

 “Actually trip trip ko lang noon maglaro kasi nakikita ko rin mga kaibigan ko naglalaro, so tinry ko, hindi ko alam isa na pala iyon sa magiging passion ko. Thankful ako na nadiscover ko ang volleyball.” she said.

According to her, she was actually discovered by a “magtataho” during her humble beginnings, who first discovered her talent and influenced her to pursue volleyball. This “magtataho”, whom she met way back in elementary school, also doubled as coach of her volleyball team. 

“Yung coach ko yung magtataho, siya po yung nakadiscover sa talent ko. Naniwala siya sakin na kaya ko, pinagpatuloy ko po,” Tapia shared. 

An accomplished juniors career 

Early on into her career, Tapia has already achieved a number of accolades, such as participating in the Palarong Pambansa, winning the North Luzon  Girl’s Volleyball Tournament MVP while also being the Best Outside Attacker in the tournament and the 2019 National Rebisco Volleyball League Most Valuable Player (MVP).

 But when asked what was her “biggest break” in her career before joining UST, she answered, “2019 National Rebisco Volleyball League po, talo po kami doon pero yun po kasi yung mga pinakamagandang memories kumpara po sa Palarong Bansa, hindi ko po kasi naenjoy doon kasi first time ko na hindi ko po kasama yung mga teammates ko dati dahil hugot po ako nung Palarong Pambansa”.

The rookie also makes sure that emotions do not affect her performance on the court. “Meron din po [emotions] , pero syempre din po kapag naglalaro, hiwalay po dapat ang feelings at yung mga bagay na ginagawa ko sa laro” she answered when asked if unfamiliar teammates affected her in the Palarong Pambansa. “Hindi din po kasi naging madali ang maging hugot po lalo na may naging favoritism po” she added.

Her “idol” in the Phillipine Volleyball scene are Alyssa Valdez and Sisi Rondina because of their talent and urge to work hard to keep the dream alive. “Sila Alyssa Valdez at [Sisi] Rondina po kasi sila yung pinaka naging inspirasyon ko para lumakas at maging matatag po,” she shared. 

A ‘dream come true’

When asked if there are other schools that tried to recruit her she replied, “Opo marami po pero pinili ko parin po UST”. 

In a previous article by the Varsitarian, she stated that UST is her dream school and said that it was a dream come true once she became part of the Tigresses.

“Dream come true. Kasi pangarap ko lang po ito noon, hindi ko rin inexpect na matutupad sya,” she shared to TomasinoWeb. 

Tapia was recruited by Golden Tigresses assistant Yani Fernandez in a tune-up game against them last April 2019 and is currently taking up Bachelor of Physical Education in the University’s Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA). 

When it comes to contributing to the team, the 18-year-old said that she hopes to contribute by being a disciplined player, stating that this is what her past experiences have taught her. 

“Siguro pagiging disiplinadong player po kasi aminado po ako noon pasaway ako pero sa mga napagdaanan ko, natuto ako maging disiplinado kasi alam kong hindi ako makakarating kung nasan ako kung pinagpatuloy ko po ang puro laro walang aral ganun pero ngayon, ginagawa ko naman lahat para mapag sabay ang laro at pagaaral,” Tapia answered. 

Lastly, when asked on what her message for the Thomasian community is, she answered, “Una syempre nagpapasalamat ako sa UST at nagtiwala sila sa kakayahan ko at sisiguraduhin ko pong gagawin ko ang lahat upang makatulong sa team para makuha po namin ulit ang kampyon,” as her goal for the team is to win the UAAP Championship for season 83.

Tapia is set to join a Golden Tigress squad led by the Laure sisters and the sophomore star Imee Hernandez.  

The Tigresses last won the Women’s Volleyball championship 10 years ago against the De La Salle Lady Spikers. Can they win the crown back to España this upcoming UAAP season 83?  

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