‘It’s about time’: WNBL draws huge interest with over 300 draft applicants

MANILA, Philippines — Former national team player Bea Daez-Fabros believes female basketball players in the country have waited long enough to have their own professional league.

True enough, the Women’s National Basketball League has had no shortage of interest from aspiring players hoping to make the most of the opportunity.

“It’s about time. For all female ballers this has always been a dream — to have a pro league,” Daez-Fabros, who is an ambassadress for the league, during Tuesday’s PSA Forum webcast.

“There is zero apprehension among us female players. It’s been all excitement. Everybody is trying to get back in shape even from their homes. Even the older ones (in their forties) are coming out of retirement.”

In just a span of two days since the application for next month’s draft opened, the WNBL has drawn over 300 applicants, according to the league’s executive vice president Rhose Montreal.

“Even before the pandemic, there were plans to bring the WNBL to the next level which was to turn pro,” said Montreal.

The WNBL, which expects to have 10 to 12 teams with no franchise fee needed, gained pro status from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) last month.

The league hopes to get its season going on the third week of January next year. Its virtual draft is scheduled on Oct. 30, exactly a month after the deadline for submission of applications for the draft.

A screening will also be held from Oct. 1 to 10 then, a draft combine on Oct. 20 to 22.

Lineups must be finalized by the second week of January. The league is open to local players as young as 18 years old.