Jhazmin Joson may not have ended her UAAP career with a championship but her impact in the collegiate league cannot be quantified.
After the final buzzer sounded to call time on Joson’s journey as an Ateneo Blue Eagle, she was encircled by her Atenean teammates and rivals at National University and given a standing ovation in recognition of her exploits as a student-athlete.
“I’ll remember that forever,” the 24-year-old winger said. “I’ll never forget about that.
“They are our competitors but they’re also good friends of mine — like sila CC (Clarin). I’m very thankful that happened. I didn’t even see it coming. That made it more emotional.”
In her final season as a Blue Eagle, the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s mainstay averaged 10.57 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.71 assists.
However, it was her leadership on and off the court that cannot be quantified, which spoke volumes about her character development.
Jason was also the ‘Queen Eagle.’
The 24-year-old skipper made sure that the Blue Eagles gave 100 percent in every practice session and game.
Definitely, she will leave a huge hole for Ateneo.
“I keep on thinking about post-Jhaz Ateneo,” said coach LA Mumar.
“It’s a scary thought but that’s how it is naman in college basketball. Jhaz wasn’t really a leader when she was a sophomore or a junior and then when sina Hazelle Yam and Trina Guytingco left, she stepped up.
“We’re just gonna look for some girl na number 28 (Kacey Dela Rosa) na mag step-up sa leadership, ayan sina Kacey and (Junize) Calago. That’s the beauty and the pain of college sports — mahal na mahal mo na sila tapos siyempre lahat naman ga-graduate. Pero yun din yung beauty because there will be new players who will step up to the plate and sana si 28 (Dela Rosa) maging leader. Inaasahan natin si 28 to take a lot of the leadership role next year,” he furthered.
For her part, Dela Rosa knows that she has big shoes to fill next season to fill the leadership hole that is now vacated by Joson.
Dela Rosa understands that she will have to step up for her to be a real leader for the team not just in terms of the numbers she produces.
Thankfully, it seems that she has learned a lot from her senior Joson.
“Pag kasama si Ate Jhaz, siguro masaya at madami kang matututunan,” said Dela Rosa.
“Minsan nakaka-pressure lang pero alam ko naman nag-improve na siya compared sa first year ko.”
So now the next question is where to for Joson. Mumar admitted that he is coaxing Joson to be a member of his staff.
For now, though, Jason is focusing on her playing career.
“I don’t know yet. That’s a really scary question. I’m trying to aim to stick with Gilas for the next few years and then hopefully get an offer overseas because there’s no pro league here yet for women’s basketball.”
