Fil-American player Chanelle Molina. Photo from INDIANA FEVER INSTAGRAM
MANILA, Philippines — Playing for the Philippine team is an opportunity that Chanelle Molina is not going to turn down.
Molina’s willingness is a big boost to the Gilas Pilipinas women’s program, which has been on a steady rise for the past several years.
“I get asked this question a lot, you know if I will ever play for the Philippines. When the time’s right I feel like I want to represent the country, my country,” Molina said during an Instagram Live interview with FilAm Nation Select.
Molina, born and raised in Hawaii to Filipino parents, just signed a training camp contract with the Indiana Fever in the WNBA.
The 5-foot-8 guard went undrafted in the WNBA in 2020 before deciding to play professionally in Sweden.
“I’m representing the Filipino community and all those aspiring to play basketball,” said Molina, a product of US NCAA Division I school Washington State.
“It’s bigger than basketball for sure.”