Teammates to rivals in less than a week.
That became the reality for Kennan Ka and Kacey dela Rosa, who were part of the historic Gilas Women 3×3 team that captured the silver medal at the 20th Asian Games last Friday at Kinjo Futo Station Square in Nagoya.
Just five days after their campaign for the Philippines, the two returned home and rejoined their respective universities in time for the opening of the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament. And the slate immediately pitted University of the Philippines against Ateneo de Manila University.
Ka, a one-and-done recruit, made an impressive debut for the Fighting Maroons. She posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds along with a block to help UP secure an 89-82 victory over Ateneo on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The 6-foot big from San Diego, California also held her own defensively against Dela Rosa, although the two-time league MVP still put up video game-like numbers.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“Playing with Kacey for a week and she’s a great player. She’s physical, she’s built like no one else in this league, so I knew it’s gonna be a challenge guarding her,” said Ka of her Gilas teammate just last week.
“I really think it was just a team effort in guarding her, just kind of limiting her as much as we can but she’s obviously still had a great game,” she added.
Dela Rosa finished with 28 points, 16 rebounds, four steals, and three blocks in 31 minutes and 15 seconds of action, but her stellar individual effort was not enough to lift Ateneo to victory. Camille Nolasco came alive in the fourth quarter, knocking down a flurry of clutch shots to help UP pull away.
This was not the first time Dela Rosa had played 3×3 basketball internationally alongside UAAP players from other schools before returning to the collegiate league and facing her former teammates as rivals.
Last year, Dela Rosa teamed up with Adamson University’s Cheska Apag and Elaine Etang, as well as NU’s Tin Cayabyab, in the FIBA 3×3 Nations League 2025 before returning to UAAP action.
She had already learned her lesson from that experience, jokingly revealing what she did during their time together at the Asian Games, where she teamed up with Ka and Far Eastern University’s Amyah Espanol and Victoria Pasilang.
“Super happy na I got to play with Kennan and now kalaban ko na siya dito sa UAAP. I guess habang magkasama kami inii-scout ko rin siya,” said Dela Rosa in jest.
