Lopa hopes for women's basketball to get a proper pro treatment

If Mariana Lopa would have her her way, women's basketball's professional status should not end in just its name.

The former Ateneo guard turned lawyer said on Friday's Off The Record with Migs Bustos that the upgrade has to be holistic and inclusive, in light of the good news of the Women's National Basketball League to turn fully professional.

"It really depends, parang madaming factors," she said.

"Una talaga on the investments ng teams saka ng liga."

For her, having a professional status given by the Games and Amusements board will not come cheap to all those concerned, as it was known that it takes time for them to get not just the recognition, but also the benefits that all stakeholders deserve, whether they are players, coaches and team staff.

"Kasi kung ibibigay naman sa kanila yung benefits as a pro talaga. Kumbaga hindi pro in name lang, pero pro in benefits, treatment, salary. Yun talaga it can be something na parang titignan mo as your future."

With that, everyone involved will have a shared responsibility to keep it sustainable, as well as convincing the prospects that it is worth the investment.

"Pero at the same time, yung mga players may responsibility to carry the league ng maayos, to represent the league well. To show also other investors, companies and sponsors na it's an investment worth their time, para maging siya viable option for the future."

Atty. Lopa added that the stereotypes and false equivalencies to compare the game to the men's side should end, and calls on the fans to tone its expectations on the WNBL which will tip off next year.

"We have to disabuse ourselves of the notion na magiging siyang PBA, or UAAP Men's. Hindi talaga siya ganun."

She added that the differences between men's and women's basketball were as clear as daylight, as giving them similarities is a blunder to begin with.

"There's a big mistake to try to aspire to make women's basketball like the men's game. You have to understand that this is a totally different game."

Furthermore, the fans will appreciate not just the intangibles, but also the getting them back to basics on what basketball should be, drawing a huge line between efficiency and flair.

She added that the flashy moves that defined the men's game has to take the back seat when the women plays, saying that it will be a huge masterclass on how proper team basketball has to be played in order to serve a lesson to all Filipino hoops fans.

"Pag nanood kayo ng women's, parang sobrang bilis ng game, konti nagdidribble, sobrang superior yung shooting skills," Lopa quipped.

"So you have to appreciate the nuances of the game na hindi mo makikita sa men's pero you also can't expect na may magdudunk, or merong 1-on-1 na sobrang intense except si Afril [Bernardino]. Dapat madisabuse na tayo sa thinking na it's gonna look like men's basketball, it's not."

With that, Lopa expects Bernardino and the rest of the current players to become a role model to the for the future generation, as she told her that being a professional athlete will be ingrained into their lives in many ways than one.

"So you always have to be you, in the best way. Parang lagi niyong iniisip na may nakatingin sa inyo so that mag-grow yung women's basketball game and there will be others that will take your place pag tapos na kayo."