Tolentino: Empower Filipina athletes by opening up more opportunities

CAVITE TOL PATRIOTS UNVEIL LINEUP (L-R) Team owner Senator Francis ‘TOL’ Tolentino, Coach Mandell Martirez, and players Bernice Paraiso, Erika May Jimenez, and Jaina Del Prado.

Opening opportunities for Filipina athletes to showcase their skills is a form of empowerment and will greatly benefit the growth of women’s sports, said Sen. Francis Tolentino.

The senator unveiled the partial lineup of the Cavite TOL Patriots, which will compete in the inaugural tournament of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) starting January next year.

“Unlike men’s basketball, there are limited opportunities for women ballers. By giving them this chance to play in a national women’s professional league, we are empowering them, and at the same time, helping the growth of women’s basketball in the country,” said Tolentino, team owner of the Cavite TOL Patriots.

The senator was seconded by team member Erika May Jimenez, 24, who played for the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

“As female athletes, we seek equal opportunities. We are ready to prove that we can play. What male basketball players can do, we can do as well,” stressed Jimenez.

Players of the Cavite TOL Patriots, which will compete in the inaugural tournament of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League in January next year.

For her part, Bernice Paraiso, 25, who played for the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, also in the UAAP said: “We are very grateful for this opportunity. We hope to inspire the younger generation that after playing in college, female basketball players can continue to compete in a pro league.”

The senator’s son, Tagaytay Councilor Micko Tolentino, who will be the team’s general manager, said they will talk with the WMPBL leadership about the squad’s home games being held in Dasmarinas City and Tagaytay City.

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“We have homegrown players and we would like to see our team being cheered on by our kababayans,” said the younger Tolentino.

The squad will be mentored by Coach Mandell Martirez, son of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legend Rosalio ‘Yoyong’ Martirez. “Since our team was just recently formed, we need to catch up to improve our system by holding practices and as many tuneup games as possible.”

The senator’s other sons, Patrick Andrei and Jeb Tolentino, will be the team’s assistant manager and director of player personnel, respectively.

Tagaytay Councilor Micko Tolentino (center, wearing cap), the senator’s eldest son, is the general manager of the Cavite TOL Patriots.

Here is the partial lineup of the Cavite ‘TOL’ Patriots:

•Erika May Jimenez, 24, UP Diliman
•Bernice Paraiso, 25, DLSU
•Jaina Del Prado, 23, FEU
•Wendi Casinillo, 24, UPHSL
•Haliana Marie Aldaya, 23, DLSU-D
•Fionna Mikee Gonato, 26, UPHSL
•Diane Reyes, 27, DLSU-D
•Honeylyn Caringal, 20, PCU Manila
•Magdaliowi Flores, 21, PCU Manila

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