THE Akari Sparks will represent the Philippines in this year’s Women’s Basketball League Asia (WBLA) which will be held in Bengaluru, India from October 20 to 25.
The Sparks will have four players who suited up for the Gilas team that reached the quarterfinal in the Aichi Nagoya 20th Asian Games – Kent Pastrana, Angel Surada, Jhaz Joson and Camille Clarin.
Also in Akari’s WBLA roster are Ali Lim, Camille Sambile, Sthefanie Ventura, Stef Berberabe, Eka Soriano, Saicha Grant-Allen, and Bre’Amber Scott.
The Sparks have been awarded a wild card spot for the WBLA, the FIBA’s flagship competition for women’s clubs in Asia.
Akari will first go up against Cathay Life Pacific of Chinese Taipei’s WSBL at 6:30 p.m. (Manila time) on October 21, before wrapping up its group stage campaign against Sichuan Yuanda Meile, champions of the WCBA which is aiming to make it three consecutive titles for a team from China, also 6:30 p.m. (Manila time) on October 22 at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium.
The Sparks need to finish in the top two in their pool to make it to the October 24 semifinal. The Final is on October 25.
Denso Iris, champions of Japan’s WJBL, KB Stars of Korea’s WKBL, and Indian Railways of India completes the other bracket.
Cathay Life Pacific will be the only team to compete in the WBLA for a third consecutive year.
