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An emotional Camille Clarin faces the NU community following the Lady Bulldogs' triumphant return on top of UAAP women's basketball. UAAP Media
MANILA, Philippines – It was Camille Clarin who pulled off the most crucial defensive stop against University of Santo Tomas and drained the most important freebies in Game 3 of UAAP Season 87 women's basketball Finals.
Clarin virtually sealed the deal for National University's triumphant campaign for redemption this year after her heroics in the endgame, completing the Lady Bulldogs' escape of the Growling Tigresses, 78-73, on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
READ: UAAP: NU completes redemption, triumphs over UST to reclaim women’s crown
The attempt by UST to return into the match after NU built a 15-point cushion was reminiscent of last year's comeback by the Kent Pastrana-led squad.
READ: UAAP Finals: UST denies NU's bid for sweep, forces do-or-die Game 3
Clarin, as she revealed after the match, discussed how history nearly repeated itself — but this time, she rewrote the result. It was the Lady Bulldogs who emerged on top.
"Last year, that's what was running through my head," shared Clarin as she put into words what was going through her mind during those moments.
But Clarin showed her poise, enduring that mental picture and turned it into motivation.
"There were flashbacks, but it was a reminder. Never feared. Never scared. There was no doubt in my mind that we were going to be the champions. Because once you let that doubt sink in, that's when you start to lose. I made sure to myself that no matter what I felt, if I felt the game wasn't in my control, I was going to do something about it. It was all about that mental toughness."
With that, the 5-foot-10 standout will leave UAAP crowned as a champion.
"We are starting a new era. A new era of NU women's basketball. And that started with us. It's just amazing to know that all the hard work, all the hours you chose to keep pushing, was really towards something. That's something they'll never take away from us."
Asked what's next for her, Clarin quipped, "A party! You see this? A party is next! No more basketball, guys, for the rest of the year, please!"