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From the Sidelines: Favour Onoh on UPWBT’s first round performance

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Photo by John James Corpuz

 

It was just last season when the UP Women’s Basketball Team claimed the UAAP season 86 bronze—its best finish since season 71. They closed the elimination round with a 10-4 record, breaking their 12-year losing streak against the NU Lady Bulldogs in the process, and forced a do-or-die match against eventual-champions UST Golden Tigresses in their semis matchup. Mere months from their historic run, the team has found itself sitting in the thick of final four contention, with a 3-4 win-loss record at the end of the first round of eliminations.

It’s not difficult to see that this record is largely due to UP missing their defensive anchor in last season’s Rookie of the Year (ROY) Favour Onoh. Evidently, in their first game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, they lost 68-79, failing to tally any blocks and being outrebounded, 29-59. The same can be said for their other matches, where UP was seen struggling to get boards against taller players.

The UP Fighting Maroons Club had a chance to conduct an exclusive interview with Onoh, and she shared her thoughts on the team’s performance after the first round and what she’s doing to assist from outside the court.

While it has been hard for the team to play without her, it has not necessarily been easy for Onoh, too. She shared that she feels sad watching from the sidelines, adding that, “as a player, it’s not easy for [me] especially when I see my teammates struggling to win, I feel like going inside to play.” Despite this, she still makes her presence felt behind the bench, cheering her teammates on and even joining the team huddles. In fact, she also comes to practice to support the team.

UP’s win against the DLSU Lady Archers last Sunday snapped their two-game skid, and Coach Paul Ramos admitted that they needed that win, especially given their current record. He added that they, “still hope to make it to the final four, even if this means winning against five formidable teams.”

The reigning ROY took that win as a confidence booster for her teammates. In that match, they were down by as much as 12, 44-56, late in the third frame. Then in the fourth quarter, a late-game run spearheaded by Kaye Pesquera, Achrissa Maw, and Christie Bariquit handed the team the 66-62 victory. Holding her “UP FIGHT” banner up high as the game approached the last two minutes with the score locked at 62, Onoh joined the crowd in their “Unibersidad ng Pilipinas!” chants ringing from the stands. She shared that she saw the fight in her teammates, and their effort to fight until the very end of the game.

After the game, Onoh noted the change in the team’s intensity during practice, with her teammates being more connected to each other, making her believe that her teammates will give their all come the second round.

When asked what the team should improve on to strengthen its chances of entering the final four, Onoh emphasized the need for the team to be more connected and, “carry each other along because basketball is a connective team game not individual, so fighting together as a team will [lead them to the final four and finals].

Although Onoh is not suited up for this season, she still makes sure her presence can be felt. While different from the tall and commanding on-court presence the UP community is used to, she still makes sure to support in any way she can. She also wants to thank the community “for [the] support and love they have been showing the team we really appreciate it.”

The UP Women’s Basketball Team will open its second round against the UST Golden Tigresses on Sunday, October 13, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City. Like how she is counting on the community to continue watching her team’s games, you can also count on Favour Onoh to be there for her teammates and the UP faithful.

Photo by John James Corpuz

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