Camille Clarin was barely felt in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Basketball Finals, the game in which University of Santo Tomas came back from 14 down to end the reign of National University.
The leader of the Lady Bulldogs in the first two games of the finale, averaging 18.0 points and 7.0 assists, the 5-foot-10 winger went missing in action in the most important match of her collegiate career, missing all 11 of her shot attempts and finishing with just two points and two assists in the 69-71 loss.
From that moment on December 6, 2023, Clarin vowed to herself that she would do anything to see National U back on top of women’s basketball.
To finally get back at UST, Clarin needed to wait nine long months, and fortunately for her, NU got the job done this time.
The Lady Bulldogs survived some anxious moments in the fourth quarter to take down the Growling Tigresses, 75-69, in their UAAP Season 87 first-round encounter on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“I didn’t get to play UST in the preseason, so this game was nine months coming. I waited nine months to play this game, to make something happen again, to forget about that game,” said Clarin, playing in her fourth year.
“I think this was the perfect way to do it. That game was heavy; it weighed on me for months, and I’m just so thankful that I have a chance to be with these players again, to compete with them again, and to be their captain again.”
Clarin, this time, made sure her presence was felt, going for 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Although she shot 5-of-18 from the field, she more than made up for it by playing exemplary defense on UST ace Kent Pastrana, among others.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I take that leadership responsibility so much more this year, and I’m making sure that I’m always there for them, whatever role I need to be in. Game 3 I wasn’t there, so I made it a point that every game, no matter who we’re gonna play, I’ll be there for them,” she said.
The Lady Bulldogs focused on three players during their preparation for this Finals rematch: Kent Pastrana, Eka Soriano, and Tacky Tacatac—the leaders of the Growling Tigresses.
Their defensive efforts paid off as Pastrana shot a woeful 3-of-13 from the field for just seven points, Soriano went 1-of-7 for eight points, and Tacatac was held scoreless after missing both of her shot attempts.
“I think everyone knows that Kent, Eka, and Tacky are some of the best players in the league, so we put a big emphasis on that during practice. From the first practice that we had, those are our high-alert players, and I think that everyone who knew they were going to match up with them took the extra effort to watch film to know their tendencies,” shared the NU captain.
“When you respect a player, you want to step up. You want to guard them, you want to prevent them from scoring, and I think we did exactly that,” she continued.
“They are the core of the team, and by taking them out of the situation, it made the game a lot easier for everyone else.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
NU now holds the solo lead in the tournament, being the last undefeated team at 4-0, but head coach Aris Dimaunahan is “far from satisfied,” especially after almost squandering a 24-point lead against UST.
The Lady Bulldogs were up 61-37 before the Growling Tigresses persevered and inched as close as seven.
“Actually, I’m not satisfied, but I am very, very happy. We’re far from being satisfied because every time you face that team, ganyan sila,” said Dimaunahan on UST.
“They won’t go away; they won’t simply go away easily; they’ll find a way to come back. That’s part of their character, and again, we have to be able to check that in our next games against them. This game is another lesson for us.”
