After witnessing the National University Bulldogs stun the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons 67-47 on Sunday afternoon, the NU Lady Bulldogs ensured they wouldn’t fall victim to an upset in the UAAP Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament, prevailing 64-59 against the UP Fighting Maroons at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Coach Aris Dimaunahan emphasized to his players that teams with their backs against the wall are tougher to beat. His warning proved prescient as UP displayed stiff resistance, keeping the game close until the final buzzer.
“It was really mentioned before the tip-off what happened in the men’s game,” said the Season 85 champion mentor. “It was relayed to them that those things could happen if you don’t take care of business. My thought really going into this game was to avoid complacency because, again, we were playing against a team with its back against the wall.
“I’m glad that we were able to pull through as a team. CC’s shots in the endgame were a testament to our unselfishness; we swung the ball and found the open player. It doesn’t matter who that player is on our team,” the former Blackwater head coach added.
“Today, it ended up in CC’s hands because she was wide open, and her extra shooting after practice showed today. I’m happy for them for this hard-earned victory; they deserved to win because of how hard they worked.”
Camille Clarin, who scored 13 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter with four three-pointers and one free throw, shared that her primary motivation was not just the Bulldogs’ victory but to repay her teammates’ trust in her as their captain.
She showcased her determination by overcoming her initial struggles, shrugging off her first seven misses from the three-point line to lead the Lady Bulldogs to victory.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Extra motivation, no,” said Clarin. “It’s really just about getting that win. That’s what’s important. Stepping up in the fourth quarter was just how it happened. That was the turning point.
“There’s always somebody who steps up for us, and I think that as their captain today, I’m glad it was me because they trust me so much. I went 0-for-7, and they still gave me the ball. That trust means a lot to me, so I’m glad I was able to reward them,” the 5-foot-9 senior guard continued.
“There are times when I’m not doing well, and somebody else takes over. It’s all about having each other’s backs. That’s my biggest motivation.”
In a way, this game served as an excellent warm-up for NU, which is set to face the defending champion University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday. It promises to be another tightly contested battle between two championship contenders.
The Lady Bulldogs took care of business against the Fighting Maroons and will look to apply the lessons learned from this game in their upcoming matchup against the Growling Tigresses.
“I think we wanted that adversity,” Clarin remarked. “We wanted to be put in this situation because it shows us what we’re really capable of. This game was a great test of our character and how we came together.
“It’s great to see, as their captain, that everyone had each other’s backs from tip-off until the last point. You can tell that the trust was there, something we didn’t have last year. I think our chemistry is really showing through, and I’m just glad to be with these girls.”
