For years, Alexis Pana’s family dreamed of seeing her play on Philippine soil.
Now, that dream has finally come true.
The Fil-Hawaiian guard, a standout from Central Washington University, is making her mark with the Pilipinas Aguilas in the 2025 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) Invitational — bringing both her talent and her family’s long-held aspirations to life.
“This is kind of a loaded question for me,” Pana said when asked about her decision to play in the country. “Because I’m half Filipino and growing up in Hawaii, my grandparents always wanted me to play in the Philippines.
“It’s been more than just basketball for me here — it’s also for my family. So I’m really happy to be in the Philippines.”
(C) WMPBL
The 5-foot-9 do-it-all guard missed the Aguilas’ opening game and struggled in her debut, shooting just 2-of-10 from the field to finish with seven points in their 72-65 loss to the Philippine Navy last Sunday.
However, Pana quickly bounced back, delivering a dominant performance with 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and four steals to lead the Aguilas to a resounding 78-52 victory over San Juan last Wednesday.
A EuroCup veteran with stints at Kibirkštis Vilnius in Lithuania and CS Universitatea Cluj in Romania, Pana admitted she is still adjusting to the Philippine style of play while learning from her teammates.
“I’ve only been here four weeks, and this is only my second game, so I’m still trying to learn everyone’s strengths. I’m just adjusting to each player and picking up on what they do best,” she said.
Even while playing overseas, Pana kept tabs on the state of Philippine women’s basketball. Now, she feels thrilled that local players — who previously had to seek opportunities abroad or put their careers on hold due to the lack of competitions — finally have a league of their own.
“I’m glad that they are finally doing this for female hoopers, especially for those who grew up here and don’t have the opportunity to play overseas. I’m enjoying myself so far.”
