University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses coach Haydee Ong during the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Basketball Press Conference at Novotel Manila in Quezon City. Handout/UAAP

MANILA -- As women's basketball continues to grow in popularity in the Philippines, Haydee Ong is pleased to see more female coaches take high-profile roles in the sport.

Ong has long been the standard for female coaches in the UAAP, and in Season 86 she led the University of Santo Tomas to the championship, ending the long dominance of the National University Lady Bulldogs. 

For her feat, she was named the UAAP Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year by the Collegiate Press Corps in June.

In Season 87, Ong will be joined in the sidelines by two female coaches: Ai Lebornio is back with the University of the East, and former UAAP Most Valuable Player Raiza Palmera-Dy is now in charge of her alma mater, Far Eastern University.

"Tatlo na kami," said Ong in an interview with ABS-CBN News. "Sana, dumami pa 'yung aming grupo sa women's baskebtall na magkaroon ng women head coaches."

"I'm very proud, kasi si Raiza din, na-coach ko 'yan sa national team," she said. "I think lahat ng mga women coaches, parang na-handle ko na. So ganoon na ako kabata."

"Sana, magkaroon pa ng more women coaches this season."

READ: Gilas coach hopes to see rivalries, drama in PH women's hoops

She is especially proud of Palmera-Dy, whom she believes is "on the right track" as far as her coaching career is concerned. 

"Parati kaming nag-uusap, until now," said Ong. "Very exciting to see her … on the other side of the bench."

"I told her na very important is to have a relationship with the team first, and to have a good coaching staff. So 'yun naman ang ginagawa ni Rai. She's also on the right track," she added. 

For Ong, the increasing numbers of female coaches in women's basketball is another sign of the growth of the sport. It's something she wants to see keep going, especially after seeing the exponential rise of women's hoops in the United States. 

"Merong Caitlin Clark effect, 'di ba?" said Ong, referring to the Indiana Fever rookie who has taken the WNBA by storm after a historic collegiate career with Iowa.

"So, we're expecting more fans and audiences to watch 'yung women's basketball live," she added. "At the same time, itong Season 87, live na, so marami ng makakanood ng women's basketball."

The rise in attention was greatly helped by UST's thrilling finals series against NU in Season 86, where they went the distance. Game 3 wasn't decided until the final seconds, when Nikki Villasin nailed a layup on the break that proved to be the championship-winner.

READ: UST women dethrone NU, clinch first title since ‘06

READ: UST’s Villasin on game-winner -- ‘I shoot that shot everyday’

Ahead of their title defense, Ong says they are ready for all comers, even as UST remains the favorite to retain the crown.

"Halos lahat naman, nag-step up after we won the championship," she said. "Nakita nila na, 'Okay, kaya pala ng ibang school na manalo, aside from NU." I think, lahat nag-gear up."

The Golden Tigresses open their Season 87 campaign on Sunday against the University of the East at the Araneta Coliseum. Tip-off is at 9:00 a.m.

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