Coach Raiza hopes to inspire younger players while juggling roles in WMPBL

FEU Advocate
February 01, 2025 20:11


Former Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraw star and current head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy aspires to motivate the next generation of players and forward the Philippine women’s basketball industry as she takes on the dual role of coaching the FEU cagebelles and playing for Discovery Perlas in the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) Invitational Tournament. 

“Everything that I can give or contribute dito sa tournament or sa women’s basketball industry dito sa Pilipinas, kaya kong i-offer para maka-inspire pa ng younger players or even my players na nakikita nila ‘yung coach nila na naglalaro (Everything that I can give or contribute to the tournament or to the women’s basketball industry here in the Philippines, I can offer to inspire younger players or even my players as they see their coach playing),” she said in an interview with FEU Advocate.

Last Sunday, January 26, at the Enderun Colleges Gym in Taguig City, Palmera-Dy and Discovery dominated the Imus Lady Magdalo in a 108-60 blowout. 

Just the second game after, the FEU Lady Tamaraws secured their first win in the WMPBL against EZ Jersey Relentless, 69-45, a milestone that Palmera-Dy views as a stepping stone for the team’s development.

“It’s a great start for us, actually, pati sa mga players ko kasi napaglaro natin sila lahat and ‘yun din naman ang gusto namin ma-experience this WMPBL, to let every players experience, kung paano ‘yung ganitong klaseng level (It’s a great start for us, actually, even for my players because we all played and that’s also what we want to experience this WMPBL, to let every players experience what this kind of level is like),” the green-and-gold coach explained.

Palmera-Dy hoped that the lessons her players gain from the WMPBL can be applied in future leagues, particularly in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines.

A particularly intriguing matchup in the tournament would be when the Morayta-based coach’s Discovery squad goes head-to-head with her own FEU Lady Tamaraws. She mentioned that while they joke about it, she has made it clear that if they do face each other, she will play for the former.

Hindi naman din unusual na nangyayari ‘yun because nakakalaro ko naman sila during practices, and they know kung papaano naman ako maglaro (It’s not unusual for that to happen because I have been able to play with them during practices, and they know how I play),” she shared.

Coach Raiza deemed the match as a unique and exciting moment in the league, acknowledging the anticipation surrounding the rare moment of a coach competing against own team. However, the league has yet to announce its date and venue. 

For now, the team shifts its focus on the next challenge of taking on the San Juan Lady Knights tomorrow, February 2, at the Mandaluyong City College of Science and Technology.

- Aine Peralta
(Photos courtesy of the Women Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League; Layout by Jeseth Chriselle Saygo/FEU Advocate)