12 games into the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Tournament, and the De La Salle University Lady Archers have already secured a slot in the Final Four. However, La Salle still have everything to play for in order to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the post-season.
In recent weeks, the Lady Archers have suffered stunning losses at the hands of the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws and defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs.
“Sobrang down ng team namin (noon). Hindi namin alam kung pano kami mag-bounce back kasi siyempre masyado kasi kaming kampante against FEU. ‘Tapos nung nakalaban na namin sila, hindi na namin alam kung anong gagawin kasi crucial,” lamented La Salle captain Camille Claro.
It was a similar tale against NU for Claro. The veteran felt La Salle’s respectable showing against NU in the first round had made the Lady Archers overconfident against the back-to-back champions. “Tatanggalin na namin yung ganung mentality. Kailangan namin dumikit at gawin ang lahat,” she admitted.
The one-time UAAP champion admitted that La Salle head coach Cholo Villanueva had words to say to his players after those losses.
“Siyempre nagalit kasi ayaw niya matalo nang sunod-sunod. Actually kahit naman sino ayaw ng ganun. Sabi niya mag-move on na lang kasi wala naman magagawa kasi nangyari nga,” she shared.
“Tapos itong UE game, kailangan talaga naming bumawi.”
Those losses threatened to derail the Taft school’s season, which made their game against the University of the East Lady Warriors all the more important to win.
“Una siyempre kinakabahan kami kasi siyempre crucial game,” admitted Claro. “Coming from two losses, kailangan namin mag-bounce back. Lalabas yung character namin kung gusto ba namin makuha yung goal namin o hindi eh.”
Fortunately for La Salle, they had managed to eke out a 70-64 win against UE last November 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Claro was crucial for the Lady Archers in that game as she produced 17 points that morning.
Claro commented post-game, “Ngayon nakuha naman namin kung anong gusto namin and it’s a win. Kailangan namin mag one step at a time kasi if ever na matalo kami once, wala rin yung pinaghirapan namin.”
With games against the University of the Philippines and archrivals Ateneo de Manila University to end the elimination round, the Angelicum College alumna knows that there is still a long way to go for the Lady Archers.
The fourth-year player felt that the aforementioned complacency and minor misunderstandings in the team have been harming the Lady Archers. However, every member of the team knows what the end-goal is.
“Minotivate naman kami ni coach every day,” she shared. “Sabi niya na kung gusto namin maabot talaga yung goal namin, hardwork lang daw and teamwork lang. Makinig lang sa kanya.”
This is Claro’s fourth season in the Green and White jersey, and it’s been a roller coaster ride so far. The Sports Management student won the UAAP championship in her rookie year, but has experienced heartbreaks in the following two seasons at the Final Four stage.
The Quezon City-resident opined that the Lady Archers needed to reach the Finals this season. However, she and the rest of the team wouldn’t be contented with just making it to the finals.
“Championship pa rin,” declared Claro.
