Ronald Mascariñas, the owner of Philippines franchise Chooks-to-Go and BAVI president, announced on this week his intention to support a new women's 3v3 basketball league.

Mascariñas and his Chooks-to-Go franchise is already a steady supporter of Philippine sports and, due to demands for a women’s tournament they are taking heed and making it a reality. Plans reveal a February start date for the tournament to coincide with the existing Chooks-to-Go 3×3 league for men. 

“First of all, there was really a clamour for women’s basketball now, especially after the SEA Games. I have my own Facebook page and before not a single comment about women’s basketball was on it, but now the public is really urging us to support women’s basketball as well. That is why we are trying to organize a 3×3 league for women’s basketball because that is what the Filipinos want now,” said Mascariñas.

Mascariñas has big plans for the tournament and hopes it will elevate the status of the sport in the country and earn 3x3 hoops an eventual qualification for the Olympics:

“Our target is automatic qualification. In the next four years, we should qualify in the top three. For the 2020 Olympics, we almost made it with little activity, but if we organize 3×3 basketball for women, we have a good chance, not just for OQT (Olympic Qualifying Tournament) but for the automatic qualification.”

Adding a women's 3x3 to the plethora of sports supported by the “Manok Ng Bayan” trust is a continuation of its mission they have outlined as an organisation.

The Manok Ng Bayan mission began in 2016 and is aimed at promoting nationalism through sports and inspiring the Filipinos.