As University of Santo Tomas celebrated its first title in the UAAP Women’s Basketball since UAAP Season 69 at the hardcourt of the SMART Araneta Coliseum, the Lady Bulldogs of National University wept on one end of the court as their seven-year-long reign over the sport came to an end.
At the center of it all was Camille Clarin.
In the biggest game of her young career, Clarin played her worst game in the worst time, going 0-for-11 from the field in the winner-take-all while making crucial mistakes in the endgame.
Even moments after the game, the 22-year-old senior guard, who averaged 18.0 points and 7.0 assists prior to the game, was filled with regrets.
“I think regardless of all the misses I had in the beginning, I think there were certain times when that doubt crept in at the end, and instead of going against that…” recalled Clarin, pausing as she tried to fight off tears.
“I’m just glad that other people were able to step up today. Our team is so talented. I wish I made one or two more baskets but that’s the game, that’s the drop of the ball. I’m just thankful that my teammates have my back regardless of the result.”
This outcome was a bitter pill to take for the NU community.
For the first time in 10 years, the Lady Bulldogs are not the champions of the UAAP.
It must also be doubly harder for Clarin to take considering that she is the captain of this batch of Lady Bulldogs.
However, the Filipino-Canadian winger remained proud of her team’s campaign in Season 86 and how they helped her in each game and practice.
“I told them that my goal as a captain of course was, besides the win, to make sure they were better players and better people. Without a doubt, I would say that so many people stepped up, so many people were able to see their potential as players,” she said.
“I told them regardless of the result, I was still proud, and I was still so thankful that they trusted me to be their captain. As much as I’ve helped them, they helped me way more than I think they realized.”
It will get some getting used to that the Lady Bulldogs are not champions of the UAAP anymore because they held on to their crown for as long as they could.
For Clarin, the bigger picture is that women’s basketball in the country is more competitive. If there was any consolation for her, it was that the national team program could only benefit from this growth.
“It did not end the way we wanted it to but I’m still proud that I was able to have the trust of my teammates to be the captain of this team. Of course, it’s not the result (we wanted) but I’m proud to always represent NU,” said the Gilas mainstay.
“It helps the national team have a bigger local pool. It goes to show that there’s so much talent within the Philippines that we don’t need to look outward. It’s just great to see all these talented and really hardworking women’s players finally getting recognition, finally getting the fans,” she furthered.
“It’s been years of progress but of course, the ceiling is still there. There’s still so much more to go but the fact that we had a crowd like this for these games and for a team like UST to win it in front of them — kudos to them.”
