Averaging 19 points throughout Manila Live NBTC 19-U Girls Tournament, National University Nazareth School’s Cielo Pagdulagan has proven that she’s ready to enter the collegiate ranks once she graduates from high school this year.
The 19-year-old center from Antipolo led the Lady Bullpups with 26 points in their 78-73 victory over Fil-Am Nation Select to bag the coveted championship.
After bowing out of the tournament last year, Pagdulagan is happy to be back at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, and to cap off her final stint with a crown.
“Siyempre po, this is the second time na maglaro kami dito sa MOA, championship din po kasi, last year natalo kami, so inisip ko talaga na kailangan namin i-secure yung championship para mabawi namin yung last year,” the Grade 12 senior said.
However, jitters are inevitable when the opportunity at a title looms, but Pagdulagan shared that she eventually eased into the game.
“Na-pressure ako in the first quarter, pero inisip ko na kailangan naming bumawi kaya at the end naging okay naman pakiramdam ko, nadoon yung excitement at konting gigil,” she said.
The UAAP Season 85 3×3 Girls Basketball MVP also dropped 36 points against the UST Growling Tigress Cubs in the semifinals.
From playing against her now-coach and former Lady Bulldog Camilla Escoto in inter-barangay leagues in Marikina, Pagulangan now hopes to continue the legacy that the Escoto and Bernardino teams of the past started for NU.
Pagdulagan also shared that she will continue her journey in college with the NU Lady Bulldogs next season and hopes that she will be able to play for the Season 86 finalists and help reclaim their throne.
“Paakyat na po ako ng college this year and sana makalaro ako this year ng UAAP.”
Without girls’ basketball in the UAAP this season, their NBTC stint serves as the highlight of their year. But the Gilas 3×3 callup hopes that the tournament will return to the UAAP in full capacity.
“For me, inaabangan din po namin ang high school girls sa UAAP, pinaghandaan po namin, pero nalaman namin na wala pala,” Pagdulagan shared.
“So ngayon, sana magkaroon ng opportunity ang high school girls na maglaro for UAAP kasi marami pong excited na mapanood sila, and sobrang excited din po lalo na mga teammates ko na makapaglaro sa high school sa UAAP.”
