PATRICK Aquino seeks the establishment of a professional women’s basketball league in the country.

Patrick Aquino’s wish next year is for the women’s basketball to get more exposure and its duly recognition.

After leading the women’s basketball team to its first gold medal in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Aquino hopes they can continue the momentum they generated in their historic campaign in the biennial meet.

And having a league of their own after these women cagers graduate from college will be a big achievement as this could be final piece of the puzzle that he’s been looking for a very long while.

The National University (NU) mentor said having a professional basketball league for women is not far fetched but it will need a total team effort of all the stakeholders to make it happen.

“For me it’s more of a continuation of the women’s basketball program. From the grassroots, to collegiate and, of course, the Gilas women’s program,” Aquino said.

“I mean, after college, there is no next level. As for the national team, after this (SEA Games), we don’t have anything to do for the whole year round. So, I want to have a program where we can join the leagues internationally,” he added.

Aquino said having a professional league will give the lady cagers the exposure they need but he wants a gradual exposure for women’s basketball in the country.

For one, he wants the games in the college levels like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) to get more airtime both on television and livestream.

“Make it available for people to watch because the games are way too early. The games are usually at 8 in the morning. Who would want to watch a game at 8 in the morning,” Aquino said.

“I just hope it can be given a bit of leniency on those livestreaming and schedule of games and I hope women’s basketball can be recognized even more,” he added.

Meanwhile, Aquino’s Lady Bulldogs are gunning for a record next year after their unbeaten season in the UAAP remained intact after six years.

Right now, NU holds a 96-game winning streak and if it sweeps the next UAAP season, it can topple the 111-game winning streak of University of Connecticut in the US NCAA.

“As for NU, I want to continue the streak and I’m also targeting the 112 consecutive wins,” Aquino said.

The Lady Bulldogs’ sixth straight title and the first gold in the SEA Games were two of the many recognitions of Aquino in 2019. He also led the 3×3 team in its debut in the SEA Games competition.

Aquino hopes their efforts to bring women’s basketball to the next level won’t go to waste next year.

“Hopefully, I could still continue to fulfill our goals not only for women’s basketball but also for women’s sports,” Aquino said.

“I think I have done my part for the women to be recognized and we want to continue what’s happening. I hope it doesn’t stop here after we have that gold. Let’s try to continue the momentum.”