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Tag: Ateneo Lady Eagles

  • Kacey Dela Rosa earns CPC citation after breakout year with Gilas Women 

    Kacey Dela Rosa earns CPC citation after breakout year with Gilas Women 

    Kacey Dela Rosa’s collegiate career has already been filled with individual awards and memorable performances, but it was her impact beyond the UAAP that ultimately set her apart this year.

     

    The Ateneo standout will receive a special citation during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night presented by Strong Group Athletics, recognizing a year in which she emerged as one of the most important figures in Philippine women’s basketball.

     

    While many athletes spend their offseason recovering from the grind of collegiate competition, Dela Rosa used hers to help push Gilas Pilipinas to new heights across multiple international tournaments.

     

    The recognition comes after another stellar season with Ateneo, where the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player helped steer the Blue Eagles to a bronze-medal finish in UAAP Season 88. But her biggest accomplishments came after the collegiate campaign ended.

     

    With Gilas Women, Dela Rosa proved she could thrive on bigger stages and under greater responsibility.

     

    Last December, she stepped into a crucial role during the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, helping the Philippines reclaim the women’s basketball gold medal. Tasked with anchoring the middle in the absence of longtime national team pillar Jack Animam, Dela Rosa helped keep the Filipinas on top of the regional podium.

     

    Her rise continued at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in France, where the Philippines earned its first-ever victory in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament by defeating Colombia.

     

    Dela Rosa was at the center of that breakthrough, finishing as the team’s leading scorer and rebounder with averages of 15.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.

     

    Yet her influence extended beyond the traditional five-player game.

     

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    The 6-foot-2 forward became one of the cornerstones of Gilas Women’s 3×3 program during a historic stretch that saw the Philippines establish new milestones in the discipline.

     

    She played a key role in the country’s silver-medal finish at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, the best result ever achieved by the Philippine women’s team in the continental tournament. Across five games, she averaged 6.2 points and 4.8 rebounds while helping the Filipinas reach the championship round.

     

    That momentum carried over into the World Cup qualifying tournament in Singapore, where Gilas secured another berth in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup.

     

    Most recently, Dela Rosa was part of the squad that delivered another historic moment in Warsaw, Poland. Alongside Afril Bernardino, Camille Clarin, and Mikka Cacho, she helped the Philippines notch its first-ever victory in the Women’s FIBA 3×3 World Cup with a breakthrough win over Italy.

     

    Those achievements transformed Dela Rosa from a dominant collegiate player into one of the country’s most impactful international performers.

     

    The CPC’s special citation serves as recognition of a year in which she successfully bridged both worlds—continuing to excel in the UAAP while helping Gilas Women rewrite pieces of Philippine basketball history.

     

    Dela Rosa will be honored alongside the best performers from the UAAP and NCAA in basketball, volleyball, and football during the annual awards ceremony at Discovery Suites Manila.

     

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  • Taks Fujimoto leans on support system ahead of PVL Rookie Draft 

    Taks Fujimoto leans on support system ahead of PVL Rookie Draft 

    The path of Taks Fujimoto from UAAP battles to a possible professional career in the PVL has never been just about talent, it has also been about resilience.

     

    The former Ateneo Lady Eagles setter once carried much of the burden as the team tried to measure up against the league’s elite, often finding herself at the center of criticism regardless of factors beyond her control. Those early challenges, however, have now shaped how she approaches the next stage of her volleyball journey.


    As she enters the buildup to the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft, Fujimoto has shifted her focus away from outside noise and toward personal growth, embracing a mindset centered on effort and consistency.

     

    “Siguro, no matter what other people say or yung mga bashers, just do your best. Because there will be people who will support you no matter what,” Fujimoto said.

     

    Now preparing for the draft combine scheduled on May 28 and 29, Fujimoto joined fellow aspirants in a pre-draft meeting organized by her agency Hustle & Groove. The session provided prospects with guidance on what to expect and what areas they need to sharpen before stepping into the professional stage.

     

    Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the transition, the 25-year-old setter is choosing to approach it with curiosity and confidence, seeing it as an opportunity to show the work she has quietly put in over the years.

     

    “I think more on [I want to] enjoy and to really just showcase what I’ve been doing, what I’ve been training for the past years,” the 25-year-old said.

     

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    One of the most reassuring elements of her journey has been the presence of familiar faces. Fujimoto is the only Ateneo player officially listed in the upcoming draft class, but she is far from navigating the process alone.

     

    Former teammates Lyann De Guzman of the Nxled Chameleons and AC Miner of ZUS Coffee have stayed closely involved in her preparation, offering both emotional support and practical advice drawn from their own professional experiences.

     

    “Grateful din talaga ako sa kanila. Because nag-a-ask din ako if ano ba nangyayare, if anong ginawa nila nung draft, or anong kailangan. Before pa ako nakapag-isip mag-draft, tinanong ko rin if anong kailangan ko i-improve as an individual,” Fujimoto said.

     

    With the draft approaching, their guidance has helped Fujimoto better understand what lies ahead, turning uncertainty into readiness as she steps closer to the professional ranks.

     

    “They’re always there to guide me, to help me na ito dapat gawin mo. And I think mas better if ito pa i-improve mo. And happy din po ako kasi nandyan sila. And I can really count on them no matter what.”

     

    As the PVL Rookie Draft draws near, Fujimoto’s story is no longer just about proving herself on the court—it is also about growth, trust, and carrying forward the lessons learned from both struggle and support.

     

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