By: Jerod Orcullo
From getting her first taste of Filipino basketball just four months ago to leading the Pilipinas Aguilas to the inaugural WMPBL championship, Lexi Pana has more than lived her dream during her brief but impactful stint in the country.
On Wednesday, the 5-foot-9 guard delivered a standout performance in Aguilas’ title-clinching win over the UST Golden Tigresses, 54-45. Pana filled the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and two assists in 38 minutes of action.
“I’m just really happy that we got this win. These last four months have been really hard work, especially the 5:00 in the mornings. I wasn’t ready for it, but I adjusted pretty well, so it’s really nice that we came up with this win,” she said when asked about her thoughts on securing the championship.
“These last three games were also like very gritty so I’m really proud of our team for bouncing back.”
For her stellar performance across the series, Pana was named Finals MVP, averaging 16.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.6 steals over three hard-fought games.
The best-of-three series was nothing short of intense. Aguilas took the opener in a thrilling double-overtime battle, 95-86, on April 16. UST responded with a gritty 69-64 win last Sunday, a game where the Aguilas trailed for most of the match.
But in the decisive Game 3, Pana and company took control when it mattered most.
Following the win, Pana took a moment to recognize the impressive talent and potential of UST, the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Basketball runner-up.
“I can’t credit enough how good they are. I know that they’re one of the top teams in the Philippines or something like that…it really shows how hard they work and how well they work together and I think that they’re going to have a really good season this year,” she shared.
With the WMPBL season now concluded and the league’s pro tournament set to begin soon, questions are swirling about what’s next for Alexis Pana.
While she’s weighing her options between playing in Europe again or staying in the Philippines to potentially join the WMPBL pro league in June, Pana hinted that she’s leaning toward staying — if the timing works out.
“I’m not sure yet, it really depends on how long the season’s going to be because usually when I play in like Europe it’s from September ‘till April,” the Fil-Hawaiian guard explained.
“I don’t really know what’s going to happen yet but I’m hoping that I can stay in the Philippines because I really enjoy myself here.”
(C) WMPBL
Pana clarified that she is not currently under contract in the EuroCup, where she previously suited up for Kibirkštis Vilnius in Lithuania and CS Universitatea Cluj in Romania, though she remains open to any offers that come her way.
Discussing the adjustment she had to make in the Philippines, Pana pointed out a key difference in her role on the court. In Europe, her 5-foot-9 frame fits the mold of a point guard. But with the Aguilas, she often played in the frontcourt, sharing the floor with seasoned guards like Elaine Etang, Chack Cabinbin, and Cheska Apag.
“The players there are a lot bigger and I’m technically small in Europe, that’s why my main position is point guard. And like, everyone laughs at me ‘cause I’m so tall here, so I really had to learn and adjust how to play post player and then also like, playing against faster guards,” she remarked.
Beyond fulfilling her dream of playing in the Philippines, Pana is also eyeing the possibility of suiting up for the national team. She’s open to representing the country on the international stage — something she’s long hoped for.
In her words: “You know my main goal from the very first moment that I started playing basketball has always been to play in the Philippines and for the Philippines, especially because of my grandparents. So of course, I would totally be open to it.”
However, one hurdle remains. Pana disclosed that she was unable to acquire a Philippine passport before the age of 16 — a FIBA eligibility requirement for players to be considered as locals. She could still suit up for Gilas 3×3 as a local.
Still, she remains committed and hopeful about donning the Gilas jersey in the future.
#WATCH: Lexi Pana shares her early hoops journey in the Philippines and the dream of repping Gilas 🇵🇭🏀
📹 @not_your_mvp /Tiebreaker Times#WMPBL2025 pic.twitter.com/cILhakCfiH
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 24, 2025
