The more the merrier, so Mail And More, one of the flagships of Lina Group of Companies, is also joining the Women’s Philippine Basketball League (WPBL) when it holds its revival tournament starting next month.
This was announced by PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad the other day in the middle of the WPBL drafting at the Penthouse of the Philippine Stock Exchange Center in Ortigas Centre, Pasig City.
Owned by businessman and sportsman Bert Lina, Mail And More will have Chiang Kai Shek as its partner school in the coming tournament which hopes to elevate the standard of women’s basketball to a higher level.
Mail And Mail will be the 11th member of the family, counting the participation of RP women’s and youth teams.
PBL chairman Mikee Romero welcomed the support of Lina Group of Companies, saying it bodes well to the rebirth of the league, which was last held in 1999.
The other participating teams are defending champion Ever Bilena of former PBL chairman Dioceldo Sy, Chito Narvasa’s Muscletape-Lyceum, Pharex-College of St. Benilde, Smart Sports-University of the Philippines, Bacchus Energy Drink, Sunkist-La Salle, Nutri-C-Ateneo de Manila and Oracle Residences of Sheila Romero.
Meantime, Oracle Residences, which will have UAAP champion Far Eastern University as its partner, made Carmina Laquidanum as the top overall pick. They also Maria Cristina Madriano, Cartherine Sambel and Ying Ravago.
Smart Sports-UP of Manny V. Pangilinan, which owned the No. 2 pick, got Marsha Faustino while Sunkist-La Salle of Joey Concepcion III of RFM tabbed Kristine Prado as the No. 3 pick.
Other first round picks were Jessamine Delos Reyes (Nutri-C), Mary Grace Quemada (Pharex-CSB), Stineli Casakit (Ever Bilena) and Nikki Quilala (Muscletape-Lyceum).
A total of 59 players were drafted with Smart Sports-UP having the most number of draftees with 11 followed by Muscletape and Ever Bilena with 10 each.