Working twice as hard to get back in the game is NU Lady Bulldogs rookie, Christiana Dimaunahan, who is also the daughter of Blackwater Elite coach Aris Dimaunahan.
Aside from her trainings with National University, she also spends her recovery time with her father's PBA team.
"I actually do my rehab with Blackwater's physical therapists, continuous strengthening lang, and lagi akong kasama sa trainings nila Daddy," she told SPIN Life. "Every time matapos 'yung training, or during breaks, nagsho-shooting po kami, siya 'yung nagpapasa sa'kin sa spot-ups. Hindi rin siya nagkukulang na mag-advice sa'kin na, 'Take it slow lang, maging patient ka.'"
Proof of her attendance is Elite guard Allein Maliksi sharing a selfie with Christiana via Instagram Stories.
While her dad remained by her side throughout the whole recuperation process, Christiana revealed that it was him who got hurt the most when they first found out about the injury: "Sobrang na-heartbroken ako kasi narinig kong humahagulgol si Daddy. Siya yung umiyak nang umiyak para sa akin."
Nevertheless, the former PBA player picked himself up to set the pace for her daughter's recovery by imparting some words of wisdom every time she needs to hear it.
Christiana recalled, "My dad tells me, 'Maging patient ka lang, gawin mo lahat ng pinapagawa sa'yo sa rehab. Magtiwala ka sa coaches mo and sa sarili mo na kaya mong bumalik.'"
As the father and daughter have developed a deep bond over basketball, coach Aris also gets healthy criticism and evaluation from his daughter.
"Sa bahay puro basketball — kasama siyang nanonood ng lahat, mapa-European play. He even asks me about my opinion sa play, kung maganda ba 'to, kung okay ba 'style ng defense niya and ng coaching niya sa Blackwater," she added.
The NU Lady Bulldogs remain unbeaten at 7-0 entering the second round of UAAP Season 82, while the Blackwater Elite has yet to win (0-2) in the PBA Governors' Cup.
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