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Gilas Women: Aquino happy to coach 'incredible' Dela Rosa

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Levi Joshua Verora Jr.

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="UAAP photo" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/02/07/20230207-uaap-photo.jpg"/><figcaption>Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) center Kacey Dela Rosa against NU. <em>UAAP photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Throughout his years as Gilas Pilipinas Women head coach, Patrick Aquino has had the privilege of handling transcendent talents like Afril Bernardino and Jack Danielle Animam.</p><p>Now, the women&#x27;s basketball national team tactician is happy to be coaching another once-in-a-generation player in teenage Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) center Kacey Dela Rosa.</p><p>&quot;[She is] incredible. I am so happy for her. She lived up to her UAAP Rookie of the Year hype. [She will be] part of the upcoming phases of women’s basketball here in the Philippines,&quot; Aquino said.</p><p>It did not take long for Aquino to be impressed by the 6-foot center who was part of the Gilas Women-laden Lady MacBeth Riots. The team triumphed in the inaugural Manila Hustle 3x3 International Invitational last Sunday in Quezon City.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/06/23/lady-macbeth-riots-rule-manila-hustle-3x3">Lady Macbeth Riots rule Manila Hustle 3x3</a></li></ul><p>The reigning UAAP women&#x27;s basketball Rookie of the Year poured nine points in the finale, anchoring her squad to a 21-11 win over Army Altama, which was also composed of former national team stalwarts.</p><p>Dela Rosa, who also won the event&#x27;s Most Valuable Player award, would later on bare that she was only lined up as a replacement for Animam, who had signed with French top division club Toulouse last January.</p><p>&quot;Inisip ko na lang na ako si Ate Jack,&quot; Dela Rosa joked about her first foray into the 3x3 discipline. &quot;Nakakapagod siya. Gigising ka ng 7 a.m. para mag-training. Siguro ‘yung pagte-training namin, nag-pay off talaga siya. Nakakapagod siya kasi sanay na sila (mga kalaban).&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/05/23/manila-hustle-3x3-4-ph-teams-through-to-quarterfinals">Manila Hustle 3x3: 4 PH teams through to quarterfinals</a></li></ul><p>One of her teammates, Gilas Women mainstay and former Blue Eagle herself Katrina Guytingco, also expressed her excitement about having Dela Rosa on board.</p><p>&quot;Everyone saw how much potential, how much talent she has. It’s very exciting to look forward in the future,&quot; Guytingco said.</p><p>&quot;Although we lost Jack, we received a blessing in disguise in Kacey. It’s going to be a huge learning experience for her, she’s so young and so much more to learn and to grow, there is so much more to look forward to.&quot;</p><p>According to Aquino, Dela Rosa&#x27;s commitment didn&#x27;t come easy, as the incoming collegiate sophomore&#x27;s focus is primarily on her academics and the Blue Eagles program.</p><p>Fortunately, the 18-year-old decided to start her senior national team journey as early as now, with support from the Katipunan side.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/11/23/12-teams-to-see-action-in-manila-hustle-3x3-tilt">12 teams to see action in Manila Hustle 3x3 tilt</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Actually hindi [madali] kasi nasa Ateneo &#x27;yung commitment ko, [pero] makakatulong ‘to sa experience ko lalo na if makuha ako nina Coach Pat sa SEA Games,&quot; Dela Rosa said.</p><p>Aquino is likewise grateful to have the budding star in the pool, as his squad gears up for a grueling 2023 schedule which includes stints at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, FIBA Women&#x27;s Asia Cup, and Asian Games.</p><p>&quot;Sana dire-diretso lang siya, tuloy-tuloy, and when she has the chance to play for the national team, we will be there always,&quot; Aquino said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/31/23/jack-animam-to-play-for-toulouse-in-french-league">Jack Animam to play for Toulouse in French league</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2453118" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Throughout his years as Gilas Pilipinas Women head coach, Patrick Aquino has had the privilege of handling transcendent talents like Afril Bernardino and Jack Danielle Animam.