Ewon Arayi
| No. 7 – Philippine Navy Lady Sailors | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | WMPBL | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | November 5, 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Filipino | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Adamson | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2001–2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Philippine Navy Lady Sailors | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Philippine Navy Lady Sailors | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi (born November 5, 1985)[1][2] is a Filipino basketball and netball player, who has served as the longest-tenured player and team captain of the Philippines women's national basketball team (Perlas Pilipinas, formerly Discovery Perlas) since the SEABA Championships in 2007.[3] She is also the founder and president of the pioneering women's basketball league in the Philippines, the Pinay Ballers League[4]
Playing career
Arayi was five months old when her father Gabriel, a criminology graduate went to Lagos to become a policeman. He returned to the Philippines when she was 16 years old.[3]
Fresh from high school from Bolinao, Arayi's father brought her to Manila in 2001 to try-out with the Adamson Falcons women's basketball team led by coach Emelia Vega, who been stayed as a player and one of the team's constant performers in the UAAP during her collegiate career.[5]
After her collegiate stint, she worked in a call center company. In 2007, Coach Haydee Ong of the Perlas Pilipinas national team recruited Arayi to join the national team. From then on, she was a many-time national team member of Perlas Pilipinas,[3] having represented the country in different international competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games and the SEABA Championship, the latest of which is the 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship, when the Philippines received Level II ranking in the 2017 FIBA Asia Championship for Women.[6] She was set to enlist as a member of the Philippine Navy.[3]
In 2015, Arayi announced that she would retire after the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, where the Philippine team ended at 4th place,[5] but didn't push through after her stint as the Point Guard of the team in the FIBA Asia Women's Championship.[6]
Basketball Coaching
In 2017, Arayi was tapped by Jubilee Christian Academy to coach its Girls’ team where she has led the team to the top of the Filipino-Chinese league.[7] She has also conducted basketball clinics in the far-flung provinces.[8]
In 2025, Arayi became a playing coach for the Philippine Navy Lady Sailors of the Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.[9]
In January 2026, Arayi was announced as part of Tony Tan's coaching staff for the San Sebastian Stags.[10]
Pinay Ballers League
In 2014, she formed the Pinay Ballers League (PiBa League), a women's basketball league that aiming to have contributions to the national team. Her experience playing internationally was one of the reasons why she formed the league.[3] The league is an avenue for former collegiate players and members of the national team to play in the professional ranks and to continue playing the sport.[8][11]
Netball
In 2022, Arayi was part of the Philippines national netball team which won silver at the International Netball Event in Jeonju, South Korea.[12][13][14] She was also part of the Siklab team that won the netball bronze medal in the 2025 SEA Games.[15]
Personal life
Arayi is a member of Athletes in Action Christian ministry.[5]
References
- ^ "Merenciana Arayi". FIBA Archive. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- ^ Dioquino, Delfin (2 April 2018). "Sports has no gender: The journey of Adamson Lady Falcons coach Ewon Arayi". Rappler. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Henson, Joaquin (July 30, 2015). "Pinay league to address Perlas issue". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- ^ Joble, Rey (May 17, 2015). "A new league for Pinay Ballers soon". BusinessWorld. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ a b c Joble, Rey (May 17, 2015). "Longtime Perlas Pilipinas player Ewon Arayi hoping for golden SEA Games finish before retirement". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- ^ a b Joble, Rey (September 4, 2015). "Skipper Ewon Arayi leads by example as Perlas players show trust in one another". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- ^ Li, Matthew (25 May 2018). "Ewon Arayi comes full circle with Lady Falcons". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ a b Terrado, Reuben (October 20, 2014). "Finally, a post-college opportunity for women basketball players as Pinay Ballers League takes off". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- ^ Li, Matthew (25 January 2025). "Ewon Arayi, Raiza Palmera-Dy take on dual roles as WMPBL heads to Enderun". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ Jacinto, Christian (10 January 2026). "San Sebastian names Tony Tan as new Stags head coach". Spin.ph. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- ^ Joble, Rey (May 26, 2015). "Perlas Pilipinas players all-out in support of teammate Ewon Arayi's Pinay Ballers League". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- ^ Navarro, June (26 August 2022). "Ex-basketball standout spearheads netball trending drive". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Cinco, Lito (11 April 2023). "Ninoy Aquino Stadium is netball's new home". Manila Standard. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Andaya, Robert (18 August 2022). "Netball stars at PSC". Journal News Online. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ "Bolinao Tourism congratulates Merenciana Ewon Arayi". 6 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.