When the Pilipinas Aguilas clinched the inaugural Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League title on Wednesday evening, head coach Paolo Layug immediately embraced team consultant Eric Altamirano.
It was a full-circle moment for Layug.
Eleven years ago, a then 26-year-old Layug celebrated alongside Altamirano after they led National University to the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball championship — the Bulldogs’ first title in 60 years.
(C) The Rivalry
“It’s very special to work with Coach E again. Not only was he the first head coach I worked with, but he’s also been a mentor and a father figure to me — both on and off the court,” said Layug.
Back in 2014, the analytics movement had yet to fully take hold in Philippine basketball.
Layug, a former forex trader, took a leap of faith by leaving a high-paying job to pursue his passion and help pioneer the use of analytics in the sport.
Altamirano saw potential in the emerging field and brought Layug into the NU program. He also connected him with then-Alaska head coach Alex Compton.
The trio would go their separate ways in 2019 when they all resigned from their posts with the Alaska Aces. Layug shifted his focus to the College of Saint Benilde, continuing to carry the lessons he had learned from his mentor.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned from him is to always focus on the process and let the results take care of themselves. That mindset has served me well throughout my career, as it really emphasizes the importance of showing up and putting in the work every single day,” said Layug, now 37.
To start the calendar year, Layug and Altamirano got a chance to collaborate once more — this time with newly formed women’s club, Pilipinas Aguilas.
Coaching women’s basketball, however, presented a different challenge.
Most of the Aguilas players are either full-time students or working professionals.
(C) WMPBL
“I suppose the main challenge right now is juggling the other responsibilities the players have. Some of them have day jobs or other commitments,” said Layug.
“I’m really looking forward to the day when they can become full-time professionals.”
Despite the hurdles, the past two months have been nothing short of special for Layug, Altamirano, and the Aguilas.
They finished the elimination round with a 5-2 record, securing the second seed in the playoffs.
The team then eliminated Far Eastern University and Discovery Perlas to book a ticket to the Finals, where it took three hard-fought games to overcome the University of Santo Tomas and claim the championship.
(C) WMPBL
“Of course, it feels great to win the championship — especially because I saw how hard the players worked throughout the entire season. They’re such a coachable group, and I’m incredibly happy for them,” Layug shared.
“I’m also very happy that the players were able to gain exposure playing for the Aguilas and in the WMPBL. That’s the ultimate goal, after all — to help these players grow and advance their careers.”
Looking ahead, Layug is hopeful that the Aguilas can secure the backing of a local government unit as the WMPBL transitions into a full professional league starting with its June tournament.
“While we will definitely enjoy this championship, I think what’s more important is that we were able to lay a strong foundation for the Aguilas program,” he said.
“The work doesn’t stop here — we’re also seeking more support to continue helping these players in the upcoming season.”
Together, Layug and Altamirano now look ahead with a shared purpose — hoping to continue their collaboration, this time with a renewed commitment to helping build and elevate the women’s game.
#WATCH: Paolo Layug (@vplayug) shares how honored he is to lead a special Pilipinas Aguilas squad to the first-ever WMPBL championship 🏀
📹 @not_your_mvp /Tiebreaker Times#WMPBL2025 pic.twitter.com/xOufFOxYbm
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 24, 2025
