Winning the women’s basketball title is nothing new for National University senior Tin Abriam; she’s been there and she knows how it feels tocapture the crown.
But what made the experience even better for the departing Lady Bulldog is how she, along with other seniors, treated their final year as part of the team: having a stronger bond together, cherishing the moments on and off the court, and making the most out of their final year.
“Sobrang saya dahil ang dating (sa iba) sobrang easy for us. It’s the last for us, and ang message ko lang sa team sana work hard pa rin sa practice. Yun talaga ang puhunan namin,” Abriam said.
“Siguro kaya rin naging madali for us is sineryoso namin ang training. I’m happy sa buong team namin and thankful ako sa coaches.”
Abriam added that the team fostered camaraderie off the court, making them an even stronger squad.
“Bonding namin, sometimes nagagalit na si coach kasi every time ang hirap na naka-game face lang kami. Hindi eh, kahit sobrang hirap ng training, nagagawa pa rin naming tumawa. Parang sanay na kami on and off the court. Outside the court talagang lokohan, plus we stay at one dorm so parang family,” she said.
Four years ago, Abriam made one of the most important decisions of her career by choosing to enroll at NU. That decision proved to be a life-changer for the veteran center, who has fulfilled a basketball journey and is now taking a Masters Degree in Public Administration.
“I am so grateful to be here,” Abriam shared. “Sometimes napapaisip ako why I chose NU. Yung ibang tao rin tinatanong yun, and sinasabi ko, why not? I also ask our managers, bakit NU? Bakit hindi yung mga kilalang school na. They said, they want to build a foundation. That there are no shortcuts to success.”
Believing in the long road, Abriam had a goal in mind and kept pushing herself through the years. Now part of a multi-titled NU squad, Abriam is just grateful to have made a name for herself while representing the school well.
“And I wanted to be part of a history-making team. Parang from nothing to something, that’s a really great feeling. I wish hindi pa rin magstop sa growth ang NU not just in sports but in (the academe),” she said.
“I am grateful na binigyan nila ako ng chance to be part of it, at maipakita ano ang pwede ko i-contribute.”
