University of the Philippines received a significant boost ahead of the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament with the addition of five one-and-done players, led by Gilas Women 3×3 standout Kennan Ka.
Joining Ka were Tiana Abrams, Ashley Loon, Rica Joy Torres, and Claire Tapinit, who brought valuable experience to the Fighting Maroons despite having just one year to play in the UAAP.
While the newcomers have added maturity to the squad, the challenge of quickly building chemistry has fallen on UP’s backcourt players, led by Louna Ozar and Camille Nolasco.
After four games that left the Fighting Maroons with an even 2-2 record, Nolasco admitted that developing chemistry remains a work in progress.
“That’s one thing nga po that we’re still struggling and just trying to improve on, our chemistry po,” said Nolasco on Sunday after UP snapped a two-game skid with a 63-58 victory over De La Salle University at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“I think almost half of the team namin po kasi ay one-and-done players po. And we are just really trying to spend time lang po with each other on and off the court po talaga para po mabuild pa namin ‘yung chemistry,” added the third-year guard.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
After struggling during their two-game slump, Nolasco rediscovered her touch, finishing with 16 points, two assists, and a steal in the victory.
The Fighting Maroons had squandered a 15-point lead against Far Eastern University on October 4, eventually falling in overtime, 74-67. They then suffered a 67-60 defeat to Adamson University last Wednesday.
For Ozar — a veteran of Gilas Women’s 5-on-5 program who recently suited up for the national team in 3×3 — blending with teammates who have just one season to play requires a concerted effort that begins in practice.
“We start in practice. We just try to be more familiar with each other, especially knowing their game and their strengths,” said Ozar.
After four games, the Fighting Maroons have come to a simple realization: focus on themselves, and the results will follow.
Despite the brief two-game slide, head coach Eric Altamirano kept his message straightforward. He urged his players to look inward and focus on their own performance rather than their opponents.
“Coming into this game po, ni-remind lang po kami ni Coach E na this game is gonna test our character, especially coming from two straight losses. Every game nga po, nireremind lang po kami ni Coach E na it’s not about who we play, it’s about how we play po,” said Nolasco.
