THREE FORMER UST Growling Tigresses made history after hearing their names called in the inaugural Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) draft on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the XentroMall in Montalban, Rizal.
From a pool of 32 aspirants, former UST team captain and UAAP Season 85 Most Valuable Player Eka Soriano was drafted second overall by the Biñan Tatak Gel Angels.
Former Tigress center Chille Serrano went fourth to the Caloocan Lady Kankaloo, while Fil-Am Nikki Villasin was selected 24th by the Akari Sparks Rizal.
During the draft, WMPBL commissioner and UST head coach Haydee Ong hailed the event as a landmark moment for Philippine women’s basketball.
“Women leading women. This is representation, this is progress,” Ong said.
“They were proof that women’s basketball in the Philippines is ready for something bigger, something more organized, more professional, and more hopeful,” she added.
Soriano, an all-rounder floor general for UST from Season 82 to 88, finished her UAAP chapter with two championships. She was also the main woman of the Tigresses in their bronze medal finish in Season 85, where she was hailed as the Season MVP, averaging 14.36 points, 6.29 rebounds and 7.14 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Serrano, who transitioned from volleyball to basketball in high school, also has two titles as a backup center.
Rounding out the trio was 5-foot-3 guard Villasin. She was a key player in UST’s Season 86 championship run, as she converted a drought-ending fastbreak layup in the last few seconds of the game, sealing the deal for the crown to return to España.
Former Adamson Lady Falcon Nathalia Prado went No. 1 overall, landing with RK Hoops Quezon City. F – Lara Sofia Alvarez
