Women's pro hoops league a long time coming, says national hooper Allana Lim

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine women's basketball is primed for the history books as the country's first ever professional women's basketball league nears its inaugural season.

But for national team cager Allana Lim, it is something that has been a long time coming — and frankly overdue.

Playing for the Parañaque Lady Aces in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), the 32-year-old spoke about the relief of finally having a home for women hoopers in the country after college.

"Ito 'yung araw na pinakahihintay namin na dumating. For how many years, especially sa paglalaro ko, parang deserve namin na mabigyan kami ng sarili naming liga," Lim said during the press conference of the Lady Aces on Tuesday.

"We are very grateful... Pinush trhough talaga nila (WNBL) 'yung liga, despite na nasa medyo bad situation pa tayo ngayon," she continued.

Years removed since her days with the FEU Tamaraws where she led them to the UAAP title in Season 74, Lim has had playing stints with multiple professional leagues abroad.

She has experiences in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal.

But now that she's back in the Philippines and play for her home country, she hopes it's going to be a league she can play in for the long run.

"I hope maging eye opener ito sa mga tao na sana kahit papano sumuporta sila, tumulong sila," Lim said of the WNBL going pro.

With the national team, Lim represented the Philippines in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, the 2016 SEABA Championship and the 2017 FIBA Asia Women's Championship.

Lim and the rest of Perlas Pilipinas, as the Gilas Pilipinas women were known then, clinched the gold in the 2016 SEABA Championship.