Doctor performing operation in hospital emerges first pick

CEBU, Philippines —  She was perfoming an operation at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center while the ground-breaking Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Draft is taking place.

 Yet she still tuned in and made history in Philippine cagedom.

Fille Claudine Cainglet, a doctor by profession, etched her name in stone as the first ever pick in the WNBL Draft held last Saturday night.

The 32-year-old Cainglet was selected by the Glutagence Glow Boosters in the virtual draft supervised by the Games and Amusements Board.

“Thank you WNBL! Literal nagtatahi ako dito sa OR habang umiiyak,” said the former University of the Philippines (UP) star guard who played for the Lady Maroons from UAAP seasons 69-73.

The Bacolod City-native Cainglet, an orthopedic surgeon who wants to become a sports doctor someday, will be joined in Glutagence by the ‘Splash Sisters’ Camille Claro and Khate Castillo, who were the Glow Boosters’ back-to-back picks in rounds two and three.

The rest of Glutagence’s picks were Camille Sambile and Raiza Palmera-Dy of FEU, April Lualhati of Lyceum, Nic Cancio of Ateneo, Carol Sangalang of UST, Nicky Garcia and Camille Ramos of La Salle, and Samantha Tan and Ays Hufanda of UP.

On the other hand, Stan Quezon snagged good pick-ups in Dianne Ventura, Kat Araja, Jo Razalo, Angelica De Austria, Karla Manuel, Nikka Tupaz, Jade Valenzuela, Marika Iida, Veronica Lio, and Bienca Ramos.

Despite entering the draft at round three, Pacific Water was still able to nab burly forward Snow Penaranda. Moreover, they were able to draft UAAP Season 82 Finals MVP Monique Del Carmen in the ninth round. The Queens also got Cara Buendia, Elaisa Adriano, Crislyn Mier, Tin Cortizano, Nef Taller, Janella Alba, and Jinky Balasta.

Paranaque, an original from the first season of the WNBL, was able to make the most of their eight picks, selecting AJ Gloriani, Mary Joy Galicia, Jhenn Angeles, Vanessa Santos, Tanya De La Merced, Jenina Solis, Sthefanie Ventura, and Jaira Baarde.