Over a week ago, Bea Daez sustained a fractured nose in practice which forced her out of the UP Lady Maroons’ last game in the first round of the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament.
https://twitter.com/beadaez/status/650227128517062656
The injury required 12 stitches before Daez was cleared to return for action last Sunday against Adamson University.
Wearing a protective mask, Daez came off the bench for UP, but before the first quarter ended, she went down again. She was hit in the face in a loose ball scramble and she felt something was wrong.
The medical staff brought her to the edge of the bench where she was already shaking in fear and crying.
“Sumakto dito sa may part ng fracture ko kaya akala ko may gumalaw. Kaya sobrang kinakabahan ako. Medyo malakas yung tama sa mask kaya yung mask ko mismo tumama sa nose ko,” she relayed.
Fortunately for her, it was a false alarm. And when she realized there was a chance to get back, she decided to return, telling her coaches she was good to go.
“Nung nalaman ko na hindi naman gumalaw, sabi ko okay. Dikit yung laban, sayang naman,” Daez said.
“Last year ko na, gustong-gusto ko maglaro and gusto namin patunayan na kaya namin manalo. I don’t like it when other teams look down on us. We couldn’t seem to get a break pero napakita namin we can compete at a high level.”
Daez led the Lady Maroons with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in 32 minutes. This included a huge triple towards the end, which lifted the Lady Maroons to a 46-39 win.
“Sobrang happy ko dahil it is a 25-game losing streak. Maraming players dito na first time mananalo ever,” she added.
It was simply not Daez’s nature to stay out of the game, as shared by Head Coach, Emman Papa.
“Si Bea, she is leading kung paano ba dapat umasta sa court. Simula practice hanggang laro hindi nagpapahinga si Bea,” Papa said.
Hearing the UP Naming Mahal being sung first instead of last also helped in making one of the better moments of Daez’s career more memorable.
“Finally,” she exclaimed.
“Ang saya, and host kami this season so ang daming nanonood. This is a way of giving back sa mga patuloy na nanonood maski talunan kami noong first round. Gusto ko maganda yung legacy na iiwan ko sa team.”
By showing grit, Daez was rewarded with a morale-boosting win she will surely treasure even after her playing years are over.
