SOLID ROSTER. The players and the officials of the Glutagence Glow Boosters take a photo together with WNBL officials Rhose Montreal and Edward Aquino during the team's press launch on Thursday (Feb. 18, 2021). The expansion team was the big winner of the draft after picking Fille Claudine Cainglet, Camille Claro, and Khate Castillo with the first three picks of the proceeding. (Photo courtesy of NBL)
MANILA – Despite putting up a solid roster during last week's draft, Glutagence will not rush things up in its bid to win the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) season.
"We'll take it one step at a time, but we're thinking long term also," head coach Justin Tan said in the press launch of the Glow Boosters on Thursday.
The expansion team was the big winner of the draft after picking Fille Claudine Cainglet, Camille Claro, and Khate Castillo with the first three picks of the proceeding.
Glutagence then shored up its lineup by drafting Camille Sambile, April Lualhati, Nicole Cancio, Carol Sangalang, Raiza Palmera, Monique Del Carmen, Samantha Tan, Ayra Hufanda, and Camille Ramos.
The team earlier secured the services of Nicole de los Reyes, Micah Figuracion, and Julie Gula through the protect player clause.
With how the roster looks now, the Glow Boosters seemed to be stacked on paper.
"Yung mga na-pick naming players are very dedicated, and may talent talaga (The players that we picked are very dedicated, and they really have the talent)," Tan said.
But returning squads Navy, which will bring in a roster fully consisting of enlisted personnel, and Paranaque, which made the most of the protected player clause by directly hiring seven seasoned ballers including Clare Castro and Allana Lim, even fellow expansion teams Pacific Water and Quezon, and a sixth franchise, which WNBL executive vice president Rhose Montreal said could be unveiled in a few days, could pose a challenge.
Tan, also the owner of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League team Mindoro Tamaraws, is aware about this, so he assured that Glutagence will do whatever it takes to win their first WNBL crown.
"I know madaling sabihin (it’s easy to say), pero (but) we're gonna work hard," he said. (PNA)
