HAYDEE ONG will be enshrined into the Women’s National Basketball League Legends Circle on Saturday for her accomplishments highlighted by her stint as a national team player and coach.
Ong is part of the first batch of inductees into the Legends Circle that includes Emelia Vega, Cristina Columna and one more outstanding athlete whose identity will be announced during the event.
They will be formally enshrined during the opening ceremony of the Senatior Pia Cayetano-2021 WNBL Season on Saturday.
Ong coached the national team from 2008 to 2014, steeribng the country to its first-ever gold medal in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Women’s Championship in 2010.
The Perlas Pilipinas squad under Ong also took home a silver medals from the 2011 and 2013 Southeast Asian Games.
Before being appointed national team coach, Ong was already exposed in international play as an assistant coach from 1998 to 2004.
A product of Chiang Kai Shek College in high school, Ong played for University of Santo Tomas, winning consecutive University Athletic Association of the Philippines crowns from 1988 to 1991. Ong was named UAAP Most Valuable Player in 1991.
Ong was a member of the 18-under national team in 1987 and 1989 and played in the 1993 SEA Games. She is currently the head coach of the UST Tigresses.