Aris Dimaunahan heaves sigh of relief as UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year and Finals MVP Cielo Pagdulagan keeps her talents in Sampaloc.
NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan had nothing but praise for first year player Cielo Pagdulagan, as she proved her mettle against the best of the best as Finals MVP in the Lady Bulldogs’ return to the summit in UAAP Season 87.
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Pagdulagan, a product of NU-Nazareth School, was arguably the biggest prospect heading into the new season. Despite knowing she had other options for her career, Pagdulagan stayed true to the gold and blue.
Towing NU back to its former glory, Dimaunahan couldn’t help but gush about being able to have the first-year player like Cielo in his midst.
“First of all, masayang masaya kami kasi si Cielo nag-end up sa college team dito sa NU from high school program and for sure maraming kumukuha sakanya. Pero still, pinili niya yung NU and yan, nakita natin kung gaano siya kagaling. Marami pang igagaling itong batang to. Marami pang maituturo dito sa batang ito,” said Dimaunahan after their Game 3 win over the UST Growling Tigresses on Sunday.
More than her skills and stats, Dimaunahan pointed to Pagdulagan’s willingness to continue developing, rather than remaining stagnant even early on in her collegiate career with the Lady Bulldogs.
“Ang proud ako sakanya is kahit ganyan siya ka-talented, she’s willing to absorb lahat ng information na binibigay sakanya for her to get better, and this is just a start for her sa career niya and laging sinasabi ko sakanya, stay humble and keep working and malayo ang mararating niya dito sa tournament na to,” he said.
“I’m just glad na samin siya pumunta and tinulungan niya kami big time dito sa season namin na ito,” Dimaunahan added.
Pagdulagan will have big shoes to fill come Season 88, as the Lady Bulldogs enter a new era without outgoing senior Camille Clarin, and possibly even Angel Surada.
As she is expected to become the new focal point of NU’s play, Cielo’s eager to ride on the momentum of her first year, where she also won Rookie of the Year.
“Syempre, sobra po akong namo-motivate lalo na aalis na po yung mga seniors namin so kailangan po talaga as a rookie, kailangan ko talaga mag step up. Lalo na marami pong aalis sa seniors namin,” said Pagdulagan.
“So yun, sinabi po ni Coach Aris observe lang po ako ng observe kung ano yung pwede kong matulungan and ano yung pwede ko pa pong maimprove sa sarili ko,” she added.
Pagdulagan normed 15.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.67 assists, and 1.67 steals in the three-game series.