WNBL top draft pick Fille Claudine Cainglet juggles careers as doctor and athlete

After playing her heart out in the UAAP, former University of the Philippines basketball star Fille Claudine Cainglet left the hardcourt to become a medical doctor.

But when a women's professional league was finally established in the Philippines, she could not pass off the opportunity to chase her dream of becoming a basketball pro.

"Hindi ko siya ma-let go. Kailangan ko sumubok kasi wala namang mawawala," Cainglet said in Chino Trinidad's "24 Oras" report released online on Monday.

Cainglet admitted that juggling the two careers would be difficult, but she is not backing down on the challenge.

In fact, during the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) draft held last month, Cainglet was inside the operating room when her name was called as the league's top pick.

"Kung passion talaga, no matter what, kahit ano, until my knees [can] pull off, I'm gonna play. Hindi madali maging basketball player, hindi madali maging doktor, pero pinaghihirapan siya," she said.

Aside from fulfilling a dream, however, Cainglet is glad to be a part of history for women's hoops.

"It's like one giant step for women's basketball in the Philippines," she said.

Cainglet was selected by the Glutagence Glow Boosters during the rookie draft. More than 100 players submitted their application for the WNBL's first season.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News