THE success of the Gilas women’s team in international tilts is a big proof that the country’s cagebelles have what it takes.
But keeping the momentum alive on the ground level is also necessary to ensure its sustainability and success.
That’s where WMovement comes in–an organization that is built on “making moves for women by the women.”
“Our goal is to build something sustainable and scalable, both for the community and the business aspect,” CEO Allyssa Dogong said.
“We want to gather everyone and show them that there’s a community for women’s basketball that aims to maximize the opportunities and break down the barriers so we can grow women’s sports in the Philippines,” she added.
Dogong, along with fellow founders Mariana Lopa, Sami Bo-ot, Therese Aseron, Micaela Bautista, and Jasmine Tiu-Malto, were all former women’s basketball players who dreamt the then seemingly impossible dream and finally decided to go into action this year by igniting and empowering the budding women’s basketball community by launching WMovement.
“Alam namin na so many people have tried to put up leagues before, but the problem is walang nagii-stick na liga,” Lopa, a former Ateneo Lady Eagle who is now a lawyer, said.
“It’s still difficult to make a model na affordable to the team owners and also provide quality competition for players. Lagi kaming nagre-reklamo until we realized, bakit hindi na lang tayo iyong magpa-liga?”
WMovement has held two Legs of its 3×3 premier tournaments earlier this year and is now set to stage a third Leg while launching its First 3×3 Elite Invitational Tournament this Aug. 12 and 13 at the Veacon Hope Sports Center in Caloocan.
It’s a small step–but a step in the right direction nevertheless as it looks to further grow and revitalize the community one step at a time.
“When I went to Korea, that’s our big takeaway. Lugi tayo kasi walang league na competitive dito. Our girls, except if you’re a part of Gilas, walang nalalaruan na competitive talaga,” Lopa said. “Kaya mas ginanahan kami to push it more because it’s the only way we can compete internationally.”
WMovement has enjoyed tremendous support from companies like Uratex and Titan, which even put up their own 3×3 clubs.
Uratex is set to represent the Philippines in the Red Bull Half Court World Final in Serbia this Sept., while Titans flew the country’s flag at the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL WKBL 3×3 Triple Jam in Seoul last June.
The two teams headline the eight-team cast for the elite-level invitational competition.
