Hardly challenged in high school, reigning Girls’ Basketball MVP Barby Dajao is taking her game to the next level with the UST Growling Tigresses for UAAP Season 88.
Barby Dajao is entering unknown territory after making the lineup of the UST Growling Tigresses for UAAP Season 88, where she stands as the only rookie from UST’s junior team.
Having faced little resistance owing to UST’s dominance in UAAP girls’ basketball, Dajao’s new step in her career presents a unique challenge — fighting more capable opponents, but to also prove herself among a strong Tigresses team.
Nevertheless, Dajao is looking forward to being pushed to her limits.
“Yun yung nagbibigay sa akin ng motivation.” Dajao told One Sports.
“Every time na nagt-training kami, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko ito para makipag-compete sa mga malalakas at magagaling. Excited lang ako na may mga kalaban na mas magagaling sa akin," added Dajao, who is also the UAAP Season 87 Girls Basketball MVP.
During the girls’ tournament of Season 87, Dajao’s UST hardly broke a sweat against most of their opponents, and only ever being challenged by the NU-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups.
This was because most of the other teams in high school are in their infancy, and with the UAAP girls tournament returning only last season after a five-year absence.
Barby Dajao (extreme left) will be among the key additions to the UST Growling Tigresses team. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
But with a lot of contending teams in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament, Dajao and the rest of UST will be facing tougher challenges.
Adding color is the fact that the Growling Tigresses are left wounded after relinquishing the throne to NU just last year.
Now with the chance for redemption, Dajao is hoping to play a big part in her team, especially as UST hosts Season 88.
[RELATED: Kent Pastrana reveals 3 things she learned after UST’s UAAP Season 87 Finals loss to NU]
“I feel grateful lang talaga kasi ngayon na host [ang UST] and makakalaro ako sa Season 88,” she said.
“Ngayon po na yung goal namin is mag-champion and sana hopefully maging part ako ng [effort sa] Season 88,” Dajao added.
Taking her ates’ cues
Despite her relative inexperience, Dajao will have more than enough veterans who she can lean on during her rookie year with the Growling Tigresses.
Apart star guard Kent Pastrana and former UAAP MVP Eka Soriano, Dajao will also be able to relate to a player more closer her age in incoming sophomore Karylle Sierba.
Finishing second in the Rookie of the Year race, Sierba could be a key figure in Dajao’s development.
Barby Dajao will be learning from her new teammates as she transitions from high school to college. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
During the offseason, Dajao said she has already picked up a lot of lessons from her teammates — especially when it comes to the fundamentals and their relationship to the coaches.
“So far yung mga lessons na nakukuha ko sa kanila is yung mga decision making sa loob ng court, and sila din po kasi yung naga-advice talaga sa akin pagdating po sa mga game and as a rookie nakikinig lang po ako and observe lang po ako sa mga skills nila and sa turo ng coaches ko,” she said.
The UST Growling Tigresses are expected to begin their campaign in UAAP Season 88 on Wednesday, September 24.
—
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.