In the recently concluded 2024 ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship, six representatives from the UAAP were part of the 16-player team that represented the country from November 16 to 21 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Ateneo de Manila University standout Jada Bicierro, Far Eastern University sophomore Althea Rebosura, and De La Salle University duo Shai del Campo and Lyka Teves balanced playing for their schools in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament while also being part of the Pinay5.
Additionally, FEU alumna Claire Ann Lubetania and current University of Santo Tomas assistant coach Hazel Lustan rounded out the UAAP contingent.
A Learning Experience
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Although the results did not go as the team had hoped, finishing last in the five-team competition, the experience highlighted the need for more preparation, especially with the Philippines set to host the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup next year.
“Obviously, a lot of the results were not what we wanted but it’s also kind of eye-opening to the country and to what we have practiced and to what we have the potential of,” said Bicierro.
“A lot of the goals, a lot of the results could have been double digits, it could have been 20-0 or 15-0 so I think we should be proud that we were able to maintain all these scores. We weren’t able to go high in digits, high in the scores with the powerhouses of Southeast Asia that were together for like 10 years while we’ve been working for two weeks.”
A Unforgettable Challenge
For Rebosura, facing Thailand was an unforgettable experience. The Thais taught the Pinay5 a tough lesson during their 7-0 defeat on November 17, with the home team being dominated from the start.
That match provided the home team and its fans with a snapshot of the vast improvements needed for a competitive showing at next year’s world championship.
“Siyempre nakakakaba and syempre masaya din,” said the Season 86 champion. “Nakaka-enjoy po na na-experience yun and good opportunity na binigay samin ni Coach Vic (Hermans). Yun nag-enjoy syempre lalo na ung opportunity na nakalaban namin yung iba’t-ibang bansa, especially the Thailand team.
“Top six sila sa futsal so tine-take namin as a good experience and opportunity para sa Philippines na first time lang din na makakalaro sa ganung tournament. Yung execution nila (Thailand) yun talaga dapat ma-develop namin sa team namin. Siyempre nag-o-observe kami every game with Coach Vic. Sinabi samin Thailand is a high-level po talaga sa futsal,” she added.
“Di lang naman din ang Thailand. Magaling din naman ung Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar but Thailand is nag-encourage sakin na parang ito talaga yung team na top. Marami sila, hindi talaga individual game ung play nila, sa teamwork talaga inaano nila. Dapat talaga magawa namin as a team. So yun yung need namin ma-develop po for the Philippines in futsal.”
Balancing School, Sports, and National Duty
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Bicierro, Rebosura, and their fellow active UAAP players had to make numerous sacrifices and adjustments before and during the competition.
They had to balance their roles as student-athletes with practices in Don Bosco Alabang, a challenge given that the UAAP women’s division had matches every Saturday.
Throughout the competition, they felt the pressure of performing well as the home team against more experienced countries. However, dealing with these challenges ultimately strengthened their character and taught them how to manage stress.
“I think for me it’s most important to not look at the big picture and focus on the small things, the small goals that I can do,” said Bicierro. “And also, like being proud of myself in each step. For example, (for the) World Cup, there are a lot of steps with that and also the AFF that we recently finished. So I thing focusing on one (match) twenty minutes at a time, one game at a time, one play at a time — that helps me manage that and my mental health.
“For me po talaga, mahirap po talaga i-balance yan lalo na for national team and UAAP, especially student pako di alam kung pano talaga siya i-manage,” said Rebosura. “Di naman (sa) di alam (pero) mahirap i-balance yung ganun. Parang advantage ko po talaga yan and good opportunity po like kailangan mo talaga mag-handle ng time management mo or balance mo for that para maka-survive ka po diyan.”
“Like yan sa UAAP, sa FEU kailngan ko i-balance tong acads ko muna. Kailangan ko muna matapos yung like jobs to do or deadline ko for that para for one week di rin po matatambakan ng gawain. Ganyan po talaga yung time management po na pinaka importante. Dapat kahit may free time ka, may time ka parin mag-aral para ma-balance yung sports and acads mo.”
A Privilege Worth Cherishing
Ultimately, the chance to represent the country in an international tournament on home soil is a privilege.
Bicierro and Rebosura gave their all as members of the Pinay5, and they will cherish this experience as they look forward to future opportunities to play for the country.
“I think, I mean Coach Vic’s program was really good,” said Bicierro. “We focused on the plays, and also it was very welcoming, sort of like easy, not easy, but also like no pressure because he knows and he mentioned how we need a lot of practice in this and this is just getting to know each other and also bonding with each other so we have that connection, we have that chemistry.
“So I think a lot of involves our common goal in doing well. I think that what the other schools aim even though we come from different teams, different clubs, it’s important to share a common goal of we want to do this for our country and we want do well for our country.”
“Maganda kase syempre nakaka-enjoy kase especially ang La Salle team, Coach Hazel sa UST — mga ka-good bonding po talaga. Sa ibang club, alam mo nang na makaka-relate sila (pag) ganto galing ka,” said Rebosura.
“Alam mo yung hirap, yung adjustment (kaya) dun palang mage-gets nyo na yung isa’t-isa so may adjustment talaga na parang as a team nandun na yung nag-bu-build yung relationship and connection talaga para magbuo yung teamwork namin.”
