For an athlete, an injury—the most painful experience both physically and emotionally—can either break you or build you during recovery.
For UAAP Season 85 MVP and Athlete of the Year Nickole Dela Cruz of the University of the Philippines Softball Team, this truth became all too real when she suffered a hyperextended knee in Game 1 of the Finals that season against Adamson University.
Even after physically recovering, the Fighting Maroons’ captain admitted that doubts and fears continued to weigh on her during her second year with the team. The injury significantly limited her performance throughout Season 86.
“Nung Season 86 talagang wala akong naipakitang performance no’n dahil bukod sa hindi ako nataya dahil sa injury ko, ‘yung offense ko talaga no’n is masasabi kong off. ‘Yung (designated player) pa ko no’n pero talaga off ang batting ko,” shared the San Miguel National High School standout.
But as Season 87 approached, Dela Cruz knew she had to rediscover her rhythm. Preseason tournaments gave her just the right spark to do so.
“Nakatulong talaga sa tingin ko ‘yung mga paglalaro namin sa mga barangay; and lalo na paglalaro namin sa Makassar (sa Indonesia), kung saan nag-champion kami. And sa Makassar din kasi, do’n nag-build ‘yung confidence namin na kaya talaga naming talunin ang Adamson dahil sila rin ‘yung nakalaban namin sa Makassar,” she said.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Riding that momentum, the third-year outfielder made it her mission to help UP return to the finals—and she delivered.
To say that the 22-year-old slugger found her groove again would be an understatement. She didn’t just match her MVP-level performance from her rookie year—she surpassed it.
Dela Cruz topped every major batting statistic during the eliminations: a .692 batting average (up from .545 in Season 85), a 1.077 slugging percentage (from .955), and 14 RBIs (up from 10). These numbers speak volumes about her resilience and commitment to bouncing back stronger.
Her stellar campaign earned her three individual accolades—Best Hitter, Best Slugger, and Most RBIs—culminating in her second UAAP Season MVP award.
Still, in true captain fashion, Dela Cruz acknowledged that the team’s third straight runner-up finish left a bittersweet aftertaste.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Unang-una, masaya ako kasi nakabalik ako sa dating ako; actually, nadagdagan pa nga ‘yung dating ako. Pero siyempre may halong lungkot kasi nakaka-sad lang na parang nasa ’kin lahat ng award sa offense pero, ayon, kinapos pa rin kami sa offense para sa championship. So, napakalaki pa talaga ng pagkukulang ng team namin—not just individually, pero as a team,” Dela Cruz reflected.
“Hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in sa ’kin na natalo kami kasi ang dami naming gameplan para makatuntong man lang sana sa Game 3, pero natapos sa Game 2 lang. Kaya hindi ko alam kung ano pa ’yung dapat mangyari pa kasi nasa team naman namin ’yung halos lahat ng awards on offense [Jaja Pascual also produced the Most Stolen Bases this season with four], pero talagang kulang pa rin.”
Having been through three grueling Finals campaigns, Dela Cruz understands the deeper lessons the sport continues to teach them—especially when it comes to consistency and mentality.
“Kahit sa eliminations na kahit anong galing niyo sa palo, kung naubos ka sa Finals, talagang tapos ka. At talagang dapat hindi nag-rerelax makapasok ka lang sa top two, relaxed ka na kasi sure podium ka na. Dapat talaga hindi gano’n ’yung mindset natin eh. Marami pa rin kaming naging pagkukulang ngayon eh,” said the two-time MVP.
“So, katulad pa rin ng dati, palo pa rin ng palo dahil ’yon ang kulang natin nitong Finals. At syempre, makikita rin natin kung ano pang mga adjustments ang gagawin natin; makikinig lang rin tayo kay coach (Ron Pagkaliwagan).”
