Olongapo Women’s Basketball is finally home, Strong and Reassuring

From the suburb Amapola St. ragged hooping “naka-tsinelas na larong-kalye,” to being a member of the first team delegation of CLRAA (Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association) Women’s Basketball, all the way to University / Commercial League of Manila Women’s Basketball Tournaments…and all losses, sacrifices, high hopes & successes in between. This is the story of Dr. Yeye Dela Peña, the Commissioner of the first ever Olongapo Women’s Basketball Open League held last 8th of May 2022 at W11 Play Moonbay, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

At the outset, Dr. Yeye, who is now based in Quezon City and a proprietor of Oasis Dental Clinic (SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, SM BF Paranaque & W Mall branches), nevertheless, a certified “Batang-Gapo” has been envisioning this event to pay tribute to her hometown. The aim is a decent safe place & space to lady ballers who are in the sports of basketball. Professional skills improvement and opportunities for local young lady ballers to scholarship grants in Manila and more local players on pro-league games.

Commissioner Yeye has created a team to ensure that all her sporting visions transcends to reality through establishing Olongapo Women’s Basketball (OWB), co-founded by Harley Rodriguez, one of Commissioner Yeye’s Olongapo-based comrade who facilitates and host the groundworks of every sporting events, Abby Masangkay for Social Media & administration, and Marvin Pacamparra “MarPac” of W11 by EMW Lifewear for the technical committee and venue, together with his business partner, PBA Legend, Willie Miller.

The vision has finally realized when over one hundred lady basketball sports enthusiasts has joined the series of Olongapo Women’s Basketball activities.

The first was the OWB Pick-Up Game held last 3rd of April 2022 at W11 Play SBFZ. Overwhelmed by numbers of pre-registered lady ballers from Olongapo and Zambales, eight teams were formed & played a friendly match, and Gissele Acosta was awarded as Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Second was this season’s main event, Olongapo Women’s Basketball Open League 2022 held last 8th of May 2022 at W11 Play Moonbay SBFZ. Four teams; Sunday Rim Hoopers (Manila), G-Ballers (Olongapo), Villabears (Olongapo) and The Invictus (Zambales) have enlisted and competed for a one-day tournament. It was a clash of never-before-seen abilities, agilities, and sportsmanship of the mentioned team’s dynamics in the court.

The G-Ballers brought home the first Olongapo Women’s Basket Open League Champion trophy. Mythical Five were Gissele Acosta (G-Ballers), Laurenelle Felizardo (G-Ballers), April Tano (Villabears), Laurenelle, Gharet Santiago (Sunday Rim) and Julie Mae Sajer (Invictus). MVP was Jazzly Estudillo (G-Ballers). Congratulations once again Gapo Lady Ballers!

Let us continue to move forward as a team and join us thru our FB Page: Olongapo Womens Basketball. Abante Manlalarong Pinay! (Harley Rodriguez)