Title bid aside, Angel Surada is hoping to make her last few outings count for the NU Lady Bulldogs in UAAP Season 88.
Angel Surada is in her fifth and final year with NU, and she has the chance to cap her collegiate career with another championship after helping the Lady Bulldogs escape the UST Growling Tigresses in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 Finals Saturday at the Big Dome.
But with the Finals pressure mounting, Surada isn’t weighing too much on the concept of having one last ride with the Jhocson-based cagers.
With at most two games left in her collegiate career, Surada is only concerned of making the most of her last few chances.
“Wala, wala na. Di ko na iniisip yun. Actually nung elimination, grabe yung pressure. Parang sobrang tight, di lang sakin, pati sa mga teammates ko,” Surada said of the expectations she had of herself in her last playing year.
“But this coming championship, wala na, parang ni-let go ko na and ine-enjoy ko na lang since last playing year ko na,” she said.
She and Camille Clarin were the two leaders of the Lady Bulldogs in Season 87, where they were able to reclaim the championship against UST in three hard-fought games.
Having stayed to play one more campaign, Surada is now on the cusp of adding one more championship under her belt.
Wind beneath her wings
Despite being one of the few super seniors in the team, Surada knows there is more to lean on apart from herself — especially having presumptive MVP Ann Pingol and Tine Cayabyab by her side.
But for Surada, it’s not just about the veterans.
[RELATED: NU Lady Bulldogs stun UST Growling Tigresses in Game 1 of UAAP women's Finals]
En route to the tight Game 1 win, NU was able to lean on more younger players. For Surada, it was an effort that didn’t go unnoticed.
“Masasabi ko lang, proud ako sa kanila, lalo na kela Dan [Alterado], Gela [Garcia], yung little things na malaking bagay si Ann. So pinagtutulong tulungan ng mga teammates namin na yung mga maliliit na bagay, boxing out, offensive rebound,” she said, alluding to Pingol’s foul trouble against UST in Game 1.
Still, NU must hurdle its biggest challenge yet if Surada is to graduate as a champion: a wounded UST side eager to bounce back in Game 2.
Facing a short turnaround, the Lady Bulldogs must refocus and hope to finish their foes off in a flurry.
Game 2 of the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball Finals tips off on Wednesday, December 10, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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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.