By: Miguel Marco
For the past few months, UAAP rivals Kacey Dela Rosa of Ateneo, Cheska Apag and Elaine Etang of Adamson, and Tin Cayabyab of National University trained side by side.
And it was all in the name of flag and country.
The quartet flew to Doha, Qatar during the summer, where they dominated the FIBA 3×3 Nations League 2025 Asia-Pacific Qualifiers to secure a ticket to the Under-23 World Cup.
Though they fell short in Xiang’an, China, last week, the experience was one they all cherished.
For Dela Rosa, the two-time UAAP MVP, the transition back to the 5-on-5 game with Ateneo has been an adjustment.
“At first, parang nahihirapan pa ako from 3×3 tapos 5-on-5. Kasi magkaibang-magkaiba talaga ‘yong laro sa 3×3,” she admitted after tallying 29 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks in Ateneo’s 81-52 win over UE.
“Pero siguro naka-help din siya sa akin to improve yung individual skills ko rin.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Etang also made her presence felt, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds, and four steals in Adamson’s 63-66 heartbreaker against UP later that evening.
“Sa experience dun sa World Cup, talagang nakatulong sa amin kasi yung mga kalaban namin ay from other countries. So malaking tulong yun sa amin na mas ma-develop pa and mas mag-improve pa,” Etang shared.
“So hopefully madala namin dito yung mga learnings namin at ma-execute namin sa 5-on-5.”
Now back with their respective schools, the quartet have once again become opponents on the court. But the bond they forged with Gilas 3×3 is something they’ll carry forever.
“Naandoon pa rin naman yung pagkakaibigan namin. Pero sa loob ng court, talagang laro yun, so kailangan pa rin namin sipagan,” Etang said.
Of course, a little friendly competition remains.
“Bago naman ako sumali sa World Cup, parang super confident naman ako with my team. Lalo na maganda ang pinapakita namin sa off-season,” Dela Rosa added.
