While team captain Remy Palma is Far Eastern University’s vocal, unshakably confident leader, Toni Rose Basas is quote the opposite; the team’s shy upstart.
During UAAP Season 78, Basas broke out as the team’s best scorer when veteran open hitter Bernadette Pons sat out FEU’s first few matches due to back and knee injuries. Upon Pons’ return, Basas continued to provide consistent offense from the opposite position, keying the Lady Tams’ near Finals run.
During the Morayata-based squad’s Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference campaign, the third-year FEU-FERN product showed improvements in her game, dropping 20 points on a regular basis. She capped FEU’s Group B run with a 24-point outburst to dash UAAP rivals University of the Philippines Lady Maroons.
FEU remains undefeated in the Shakey’s V-League and Basas stays genuinely-surprised at the attentions her stellar performance has drawn.
“’Yung training namin, mahirap talaga. Kaya kompartable akong maglaro nang ganoon. Gusto ni coach na lagi kaming may gana pag training para kapag laro maganda ‘rin ‘tong ipapakita namin,” the 19-year old opposite said.
More than anything, Basas is happy that she has earned head coach Shaq Delos Santos’ trust. FEU now looks to Basas to lift them over tight situations matches together with Palma and Basas.
“Masaya ako kasi first time akong makapagtiwalaan ng gaya nila [Bernadette] Pons. Kaya kailangan ko pa ipakita kay coach na kaya ko pang iangat ‘yung gusto nila makita,” the FEU junior continued.
But Basas sees that she has a ways to go before reaching Bernadette Pons’ consistent brilliance. Pons, an all-around dynamo with the calm demeanour of a monk, took time to become the reliable star she is today.
“Hindi pa buo [‘yung tiwala nila sa akin] kagaya ng kay Pons. Si Pons kasi kapag sinabi mo, kaya niya agad gawin. Ako, sa una, may takot pa akong gawin. Kapag inulit-ulit nila, magagawa ko na rin aksi may tiwala na ako sa sarili,” Basas insisted.
FEU will continue their Shakey’s V-League run, starting their quarters campaign on Wednesday at PhilSports against a still-to-be determined foe.
