 |
| Dr. Fille Claudine Cainglet thumbs up while following the first WNBL player draft on her netbook inside UE Ramon Magsaysay Hospital in Quezon City. (Image Source: Tiebreaker Times) |
The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), the first women's professional sports league in the Philippines, has added another milestone in its development by holding its first ever player draft. Done virtually last February 13, 2021, 39 out of 177 aspiring female basketball players from different parts of the country were selected by the league's teams and are expected to compete in the league's inaugural season as a professional league.
Leading the roster of players drafted was 32 year old, 5'2" Dr. Fille Claudine Cainglet who played for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in the UAAP from seasons 69 to 73. Cainglet was performing an operation at the University of the East (UE) Ramon Magsaysay Hospital in Quezon City as she followed the draft presented by Chooks-To-Go and powered by Smart Communications and eventually heard the news of her selection by the Glutagence Glow Boosters. Joining her in the Glow Boosters as back-to-back top picks in the second and third rounds are the "Splash Sisters" Camille Claro and Khate Castillo.
The rest of Glutagence's picks are Camille Sambile of Far Eastern University, April Lualhati of Lyceum, Nic Cancio of Ateneo, Carol Sangalang of University of Santo Tomas, 5Raiza Palmera-Dy of FEU, Nicky Garcia of La Salle, Samantha Tan of UP, Ays Hufanda of UP, and Camille Ramos of La Salle. STAN Quezon, meanwhile, picked up Dianne Ventura, Kat Araja, Jo Razalo, Angelica De Austria, Karla Manuel, Nikka Tupaz, Jade Valenzuela, Marika Iida, Veronica Lio, and Bienca Ramos.
The Pacific Water Queens was able to nab Snow Peñaranda before the end of the draft's second round and eventually picked UAAP Season 82 Finals MVP Monique Del Carmen. They also got Cara Buendia, Elaisa Adriano, Crislyn Mier, Tin Cortizano, Nef Taller, Janella Alba, and Jinky Balasta. Parañaque, an original from the first season of the WNBL, for its part, was able to make the most of their eight picks, selecting AJ Gloriani, Mary Joy Galicia, Jhenn Angeles, Vanessa Santos, Tanya De La Merced, Jenina Solis, Sthefanie Ventura, and Jaira Baarde.
In the lead-up to the draft, all teams were given a chance to "protect" at most seven players who would not go through the draft. The first WNBL player draft was supervised by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) with board chairman Abraham Mitra gracing and witnessing the milestone occasion. After securing a professional license from the GAB last year, the WNBL hopes to provide a platform for female players to showcase their skills and share their passion and love for basketball following their careers in the collegiate leagues.
