177 hopefuls complete WNBL draft pool; Miranda leads applicants

National team player and WNBL draft hopeful Gemma Miranda. FIBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Women’s National Basketball League has trimmed its total number of draft applicants from 702 to a 177 for the inaugural pro season expected to tip off next year.

Last season’s Finals MVP Gemma Miranda leads the cast of applicants who were carefully selected by the screening committee from an overwhelming number of players that applied.

Miranda was a guest player for the PSI Lady Air Defenders in the first season of the WNBL, when it was still an amateur league, and juggled her time between her club and with the national team.

Other notable names who made it to the final list of applicants were 2019 UAAP Finals MVP Monique del Carmen, former UAAP MVPs Marichu Bacaro, Camille Sambile, and Raiza Dy.

Fille Claudine Cainglet, Camille Claro, Jocy Positos, Camille Ramos, Angeli Gloriani, Marites Gadian, Tina Deacon, and Snow Penaranda are also part of the list that.

Those who made it through the selection process will then participate in the WNBL Draft Combine at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Teams that are already in the WNBL will have the privilege to protect six players from their original rosters while players from the Armed Forces of the Philippines must only submit their rosters to the league granted that their players have been enlisted personnel for at least a year.