Having missed out on clearance to play for the Gilas Women, Janine Pontejos and Chack Cabinbin make waves with the San Juan Lady Knights in WMPBL action.
Janine Pontejos emerged victorious in her Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) debut as a player, helping the San Juan Lady Knights to an 85-47 drubbing of RK Hoops-Quezon City at the Ynares Sports Arena on Sunday.
Pontejos, who coached CEU during the WMPBL Invitational earlier this year, had 17 points as she connived with fellow Gilas veteran Chack Cabinbin for a strong first half where they led, 44-26.
The Lady Knights then led by as many as 41 markers against Quezon City after a free throw from Hazel Panti with 2:45 left in the game.
Pontejos also had four rebounds, four assists, and three steals to pace the Knights, while Cabinbin had an all-around game of 10 points, nine assists, five boards, and four steals.
The Gilas Women duo missed out on the William Jones Cup and presumably the upcoming FIBA Women’s Asia Cup due to clearance issues with their respective troops in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said last month that they were still in the process of clearing the two, along with WMPBL Invitational MVP Afril Bernardino.
Despite this, both veterans had a lot to play for in the country’s latest bid for a professional women’s basketball league in the country.
With the win, San Juan starts its campaign at 1-0 while RK Hoops dropped to 1-1.
Meanwhile, the Solar Home-Pangasinan barged into the win column thanks to efforts from La Salle standout Lee Sario and Gilas Women pool player Gabby Bade as they trumped Discovery Perlas, 77-63, also on Sunday.
Sario and Bade led the unlikely victory for the Suns against a favored Discovery side that had Derrick Pumaren as head coach and former national team player Allana Lim.
Sario posted a game-high 19 points off of five triples and nine rebounds to pace Solar Home to a 1-1 record.
Meanwhile, Bade had a near triple-double of 18 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in the victory.
Lim, for her part, had 26 points and 12 rebounds in the losing effort.
Discovery thus begin their campaign in the WMPBL’s first professional season with a 0-1 slate.