Filling in big shoes of Jack Animam, two-time UAAP MVP Kacey Dela Rosa dug deep to help tow the Gilas Pilipinas Women to the gold medal of SEA Games 2025.
BANGKOK — Coming into the national team is always a big responsibility, but even more so when you’re tapped to fill the role left by one of the program's long-time stalwarts.
Such was the case for two-time UAAP MVP Kacey Dela Rosa when she was called upon to take over the reins from Gilas Pilipinas Women veteran Jack Animam, who couldn’t join the SEA Games 2025 due to club commitments in Japan.
Replacing one of the icons of the team, Dela Rosa admitted that there was some sort of expectation that she wanted to fulfill — especially competing in her first SEA Games.
“Ayun, at first, super nape-pressure ako kasi yun nga, si Ate Jack,” Dela Rosa told POC Media, as the Philippines regained the SEA Games gold medal with a victory over Thailand.
"I think tinake ko na lang siya as a challenge kasi I need to help the team to get the gold, kasi yun nga, parang redemption for them. Wala ayun lang, super happy lang na nakuha namin yung gold," she added.
Aside from stepping up to take Animam's regular spot, Dela Rosa also played two games with little to no rest with Ann Pingol and Angel Surada coming in late due to their Finals run in UAAP Season 88.
Adding color to her campaign was the fact that Dela Rosa was also able to accomplish a measure of redemption for herself, claiming the SEA Games title after failing in her own bid in the UAAP ironically at the hands of Pingol and Surada.
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Even with the challenges, it's a successful first SEA Games for Dela Rosa. But she's not about to get ahead of herself and become overconfident just because she has a gold medal around her neck.
Rather, she’s just happy to be able to contribute to the overall success of the national team at whatever level she can.
“Di ko naman iniisip na sure ako na lineup with coach, alam kong may mas maraming magagaling parin sakin, and ayun lang, kung ano lang yung kaya kong ibigay, ibibgay ko,” she said.
Effort repaid
Dela Rosa and Gilas Women’s redemption run was made sweeter by the Filipino community in Thailand, who witnessed their third gold medal win in the last four SEA Games.
Even as they faced and beat home bets Thailand in the gold medal match, 73-70, there was still a sizable crowd of Filipino fans that spurred them on, which proved pivotal late as they needed to fend off a Thai comeback.
“Ang saya nga ng feeling, ang daming nanonood na taga Pilipinas and, super happy ako sa crowd, talagang nag-support sila kahit nasa Thailand yung game, talagang feel na feel namin yung support,” she said.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.