Former NU star Camille Clarin and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu at a panel at Nike Fort, as part of Ionescu's Manila tour on March 10, 2025. Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- Camille Clarin got the opportunity of a lifetime on Monday, as she sat next to New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu in a panel at the Nike Fort in Bonifacio Global City to talk about all things basketball.
For the star of National University, it was a chance to learn from a WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist, and one of the faces of women's basketball in the United States and across the globe.
"I'll be riding this high for like, a month, for sure," Clarin told ABS-CBN News after the event, which saw her share to Ionescu the story of the Lady Bulldogs' redemption campaign in UAAP Season 87, among other stories.
Also present in the panel were La Salle women's basketball head coach Cholo Villanueva and PBA icon LA Tenorio, who spoke of their own experiences as players and advocates for female athletes.
Still, it was Ionescu who was clearly the biggest source of inspiration not just for Clarin, but also the select fans who got the chance to listen to the WNBA superstar speak and share her road to success.
READ: Rising women's basketball landscape greets Sabrina Ionescu in return to PH
Among the lessons Ionescu imparted is how she responds to adversity and failure.
"I think you just have to realize that that's always gonna happen. It's never gonna be smooth-sailing, perfect -- you win every game, and there are no setbacks. So I think just kind of understanding that that's part of everyone's journey, and being okay with that," she said.
"And understanding that you can learn through a lot of those tough times to be better and come out on the other end and become a better player, you become a better person, a better team, and you're able to learn a lot about yourself during that time of adversity," Ionescu added.
For Clarin, the lessons she learned on Monday are unforgettable, and will continue to fuel her as an athlete. They also serve as a reminder to her of the goals that she has yet to achieve.
"It's an amazing opportunity, just because the state of women's basketball here in the Philippines, like we talked about, isn't necessarily the highest in comparison to how it is the US," she said.
"But for her to take her time, to spend time with us and to really show us that, stack the days, anything is possible, and be ready for when the moment comes, I think just to hear that from her was amazing," Clarin added.
"It goes to show that really, the opportunities will come. I think you just have to trust in the process and trust in your own timing."
READ: WNBA champ Sabrina Ionescu lights it up with Filipino hoopers in BGC clinic
Having concluded her UAAP career with a championship, Clarin is now looking forward to the next step, including possibly a stint with the Gilas Pilipinas Women in the Southeast Asian Games. At the moment, her focus is on 3x3 basketball.
"I think it's gonna be an exciting time to explore what that's like for me. A new challenge, I love a good challenge. I think succeeding on the international level is what I'm after right now, hopefully that turns to playing overseas as well," she said.
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