CAMILLE Clarin saw National University’s dynasty rise, fall, and from the ashes, they hope to build one again.
With the UAAP women’s basketball crown on her head again, Clarin couldn’t help but look back at last year’s stunning championship loss that ended the Lady Bulldogs' dynastic reign of seven straight championships.
The pain from that loss, she said, was indescribable, and she vowed never to go through it again.
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“Nobody knows what we've been through," she said. "Nobody knows the effect of ending a dynasty. Nobody knows what it feels like to lose after seven straight championships. But all that's in the past."
Because this time, in the same venue against the same opponent in a feisty University of Sto. Tomas, a different result saw Clarin & Co. win their eight title in nine seasons.
Dynasty restored, then? Not really. Not yet.
“We are starting a new era. A new era of NU women's basketball. And that started with us,” NU’s senior captain said.
“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.”
Never a thing as ‘enough work’
There are more than a few ways to cope with the pain of defeat, let alone one as seismic as a dynasty-ending title loss in Season 86.
Although putting in the work would definitely be a given under such circumstances, Clarin came to the realization that it’ll take more than just hard work to restore lost glory for the Lady Bulldogs.
In fact, CC pointed out, one can't really work hard enough no matter how one tries.
The difference? She still did it anyway, more than she’s ever done in her career.
“The biggest lesson for me was you can never work enough. Last year, I didn't put in any extra work. I didn't do what it took to be at top level. I was good at communicating and stuff like that, but I think my impact wasn't enough,” Clarin said.
“I don't think there was a day this year where I didn't do extra work. I didn't talk to other coaches. I didn't do film because I knew this moment was going to come, and I knew I wanted to be ready for it.
Clarin added, looking back at her lowest moment, “Game 3 last year, two points, one out of eleven, something like that. But the only thing you can do once you're down is to rise back up, and that's what I did.”
And when the title was to be decided in a rubber match for the second year running, Clarin knew just what to do and how it was supposed to end.
“There were flashbacks, but it was reminders. 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.”
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