Blue-chip recruit Camille Nolasco gets ready to lock horns against fellow Gilas players in the UP-NU game.
Fighting Maroons rookie Camille Nolasco is in for the toughest challenge of her young UAAP career so far as she faces her Gilas Pilipinas Women teammates.
The showdown is on as UP plays powerhouse NU in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, September 18.
Among the products of the Gilas Pilipinas youth teams, Nolasco has already experienced sharing the court with the likes of UAAP champion Camille Clarin, as well as fellow rookie Cielo Pagdulagan.
Also another Gilas player on the Lady Bulldogs’ roster is seasoned veteran Angel Surada.
But this time around, Nolasco and her fellow Gilas Pilipinas pool players will be on opposing sides of the court. With the pride of UP sprawled on her chest, Nolasco said she’s eager to do the best she can.
“Syempre, gaya ng sabi nila coach [Paul Ramos], lagi lang namin bibigay yung best namin and we always treat every opponent equally and lagi lang namin talaga ibibigay yung best namin and we respect each and every opponent naman po,” said Nolasco.
The 19-year-old previously underscored the impact of playing with the national team – especially with having the help of older players like Clarin and Surada.
Having been trusted with opportunities in Gilas Pilipinas, Nolasco has been working on her confidence in UP.
“I always give my 100 percent every game and super big thing to be able to play with Gilas especially with my ates kasi I really learned a lot from them,” she said.
“The simple thing na binibigay nila yung trust sakin for me to believe in myself also is malaking bagay na po for me,” she added.
It won’t just be Nolasco who would be having confidence against the Lady Bulldogs though, as the Fighting Maroons will keep their mindset intact after being able to get a win over the perennial powerhouse last season.
It’s a different conversation this time around though, with Season 86 Rookie of the Year Favour Onoh out due to injury for UP. Still, Nolasco’s teammates and coach believe that if they can come out with their best foot forward, they can do it again.
“You know, ang NU staple na yan sa women’s basketball. Whether we like it or not… I feel NU has earned that respect, that every time you play against them, you really have to be at your best. So, for me, to answer your question, we don’t focus on them,” said UP coach Ramos.
“We just focus on our performance. If we can outperform how we played last season, and plus plus more, because we don’t have a 20 rebounds a game girl in the middle, so hopefully we can get out with a win again this season,” he added.
Key holdover Achrissa Maw, meanwhile, mirrored his coach’s sentiment and focused on what’s ahead – and not what happened last year.
“Kagaya po ng sabi ni coach Paul, hindi namin tinitignan sila as a team na kung sino kinakalaban namin, matalo namin or matalo kami,” she said.
“So, kagaya nang sinabi ni coach, every team, UST man yan or NU, nagpe-perform lang kami. Di namin iniisip kung yung pressure, di kami nagiisip ng ganon.”
Nolasco, Maw, and the rest of the Fighting Maroons battle the NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, September 18, 1:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.