Two former Gilas Women’s players are set to clash in the main event of the first-ever Women’s National Basketball League 1v1 card on Saturday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Allana Lim of Parañaque will take on Snow Peñaranda of Pacific Water in the light heavyweight main event of the first-of-its-kind festivity.
For the 32-year-old Lim, this will be a unique experience for her. It is the first time she will compete in an organized 1v1 game after making the rounds in both 5-on-5 and 3×3.
“We all know that 1v1 game ay fast-paced na laro talaga. Dapat kondisyon ka physically and mentally. And siyempre dapat well-rounded na player ka,” said Lim, who holds a three-inch height advantage over Peñaranda.
Peñaranda has to get rid of jitters, though, as she faces one of her heroes.
“Super excited po, kasi makakalaban ko ‘yung isa sa mga idol ko. Sobrang challenging din po kasi she’s one of the legends in the women’s basketball here in the Philippines,” said Penaranda, who is four years younger than Lim.
The match tips off at 7:00PM.
Action in this one-day festivity that is also supported by Chooks-to-Go, Anytime Fitness, Uratex, and Gatorade begins at 3:55PM.
Quezon’s Jo Razalo takes on Parañaque’s Girly Villaflores in a heavyweight clash to open the day. Then comes the battle between lightweights Jhenn Angeles of Parañaque versus Quezon’s Angelica De Austria.
At 4:55PM, the first men’s match pitting welterweights Raymart Amil of Laguna and Marvin Baracael of Sulong Stan takes place.
From 5:20pm to 6:10, it will be the featherweights who will take the court. Pacific Water’s Jollina Go goes up against Glutagence’s Nicole Delos Reyes; followed by Quezon’s Christopher Lagrama squaring off against Pampanga’s Mark Tamayo.
Parañaque’s Stefhanie Ventura faces Glutagence’s Nic Cancio at 6:10PM. Then comes a novelty heavyweight match pitting outsiders Teytey Teodoro of VisMin Super Cup team Kapatagan, Lanao Del Norte against Cameroonian Arnaud Noah.
Each game comprises of three, five-minute rounds, with the first player to score 30 points declared as the winner
But definitely, all eyes will be on the women’s light heavyweight game.
Both Lim and Penaranda have been preparing for it for the last two months.
“Talagang nagpa-kondisyon ako — doing workouts at home and even hired a personal trainer para tutukan ako,” said Lim.
“Against Snow Peñaranda, it would be a tough game against her. Pero I will give my very best para bigyan siya ng magandang laban.”
“May kaunting pressure sa 1v1 kasi mas nakakapagod siya compare sa 5-on-5 na meron kang teammates na mapapasahan or sa-sub sa’yo pagpagod ka,” said Penaranda.
“Pero hindi ko na iniisip ‘yun, I’ll just enjoy the game and do my best para mabigyan ko ng magandang laban si Ate Allana.”
