Haydee Ong is taking women's basketball to new heights in the Philippines

Heidi Ong firmly believes that strong interpersonal relationships are the foundation of all success. The former head coach of the Philippine Women's National Basketball Team was recently appointed as the commissioner of the inaugural Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL). The establishment of the WMPBL means that players are now able to continue developing beyond local university leagues.

Ong stated that leading such a league has always been her vision. "Ever since I was young, it has been my dream to have a women's professional league," Ong said. "Hopefully, this season is just a step towards becoming a professional league this coming June, which is when they plan to formally establish the league through a draft."

Ong, a former college basketball MVP, comes from a large family of athletes. Before joining the senior team, she played for the U16 and U18 national teams. From 1986 to 1993, Ong played in the highest-level league, after which she joined the national team coaching staff in 1996, beginning a long journey of influencing the lives of team members. In 2007, Ong was appointed head coach of the Philippine Women's National Team, leading the team to a gold medal at the 2010 Southeast Asian Women's Basketball Championship and silver medals at the 2011 and 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

Following these successes, she was invited to coach the team of her alma mater, Manila's University of Santo Tomas (UST), an invitation she gladly accepted. "Of course, it's my alma mater, so I couldn't refuse," Ong said. She is currently still coaching the team while also overseeing the WMPBL. "I'm not just their coach on the court, but also off the court," Ong said. "I'm their mentor, friend, mother, and sometimes their enemy."

Nikki Villasin, a Filipino-American from Chicago, overcame Guillain-Barré syndrome and eventually became a point guard for UST under Ong's guidance, and is now on the team's staff. Villasin said, "I have an autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome. I was diagnosed with it when I was 18, and my left arm and legs were paralyzed." After seeing eight different doctors for months, Villasin was hospitalized and recovered six months later. "I remember being in the hospital, wishing I could still play basketball. Wishing I could run," she said. "When I finally recovered, I played college basketball. I wanted to continue playing overseas and make it my career. Thankfully, when my college career ended, UST was looking for a guard."

After seeing Villasin's abilities, Ong invited her to join the UST team. "I immediately let Coach Heidi know about (my) autoimmune disease," Villasin said. "She was very understanding. I have a very maternal and open relationship with (her), which has helped me a lot in my process here." Villasin said that Ong's way of building relationships extends to each of her players. "There's not one player on the team that would say, 'Oh, I don't have a good relationship with Coach Heidi,'" she said. "She checks up on me and the other girls every day." "I would say she's very firm with her expectations, but at the same time, she knows how to balance."

In addition to her strategic talents on the court, Ong's solid foundation of support for others extends beyond her players. Another important relationship she has is with UST's long-time team manager, Cynthia Chiu. This unlikely partnership began with a simple request in 2004: to find a female coach for Chiu's daughter's high school basketball team. Chiu found Ong, and that connection marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. More than two decades later, the two have fostered a unique team culture. "We were with the national team from 2007 to 2013. After that, she went to UST. Wherever she is, we're a tandem," Chiu said. "Now with the WMPBL, I said, 'Wait, this is too big, too fast' - I was more cautious." "She grabbed (the commissioner role), and I think this is what women's basketball players have been waiting for." "In my opinion, there's no one better than Coach Heidi (for this role)."

Together, Coach Ong and "Ninang" Cynthia Chiu have left an indelible mark on the sport in the Philippines and on the players they have worked with. "What I (love from the teams we've been with) is that when they move on after playing, they take (the values we taught them) with them," Chiu said. "I know a lot of players would want to play for Coach Heidi if they had the chance." Chiu acknowledged Ong's significant impact on elevating the level of women's basketball in the Philippines. Her innovative coaching style and competitive drive challenged other coaches and programs, raising their standards. Looking ahead, Chiu is optimistic about the future of women's basketball. "Small steps lead to bigger achievements, you just have to take it slow," she said. "I hope women's basketball players start to think that they deserve not only to be players on the court, but they deserve more." "I hope women's basketball can unite for a bigger cause. Maybe even participate in (the Olympics)."

Coach Ong, filled with gratitude for all those who have contributed to this landmark new league, conveys a message of hope and encouragement to aspiring athletes. "Just keep dreaming. Like I said, it was my dream to have a national women's professional league, and now we're here." "We want this league to be sustainable, but the sustainability of a league is a long journey." "In two to three years, I hope it's safe and stable. Then (that's when) you can say your league is successful."

Cynthia Chiu and Heidi Ong have a motto that guides them throughout their journey. That is "walang iwanan," which means "leave no one behind." It's a fitting motto as women who love the sport do their best for their country and people around the world.