AFTER sitting out last UAAP season due to the residency rule, newcomer Grace Irebu is ready to show her wares as the Growling Tigresses’ much-needed reinforcement in the paint.
In Season 80, the Tigresses played 5’6” Sai Larosa and 5’7” Bets Peñaflor at center.
Now with the 6’3” rookie anchoring the paint for UST, the Tigresses can finally have a perfect match-up against other teams’ bigmen.
“The team is good. It’s like family. [We have a good] team spirit and we give effort every day, every game,” Irebu told the Varsitarian in an interview.
The 20-year-old Irebu was also a former member of the Congo national team, a huge factor why she stood out among other Congo players who tried out for UST.
Tigresses head tactician Haydee Ong, who formerly coached the Philippine women’s national basketball team, said she exhausted all her connections to recruit taller wards to try to offset the team’s height disadvantage.
“I got a lot of videos coming in. A lot are perimeter players and some are post players,” Ong recalled.
Irebu’s addition also opened up more options in the team’s playbook, according to Ong.
“It is a huge impact for us… I can have different dimensions and options in our offense and defense.”
Last season, UST had no match particularly to the dynastic National University Lady Bulldogs, a team that has 6’2” Jack Animam and 6’4” Congo-native Rhena Itesi manning the shaded area.
Irebu was first tested in the Fr. Martin Cup and the SMART Breakdown Basketball Invitational, where UST both placed second.
Team captain Tin Capilit had high praise for Irebu’s work ethic, evidenced by her consistent double-double production in both tournaments.
“Sa training, sobrang tinatrabaho niya,” Capilit said. “Sobrang thankful namin na nakuha namin siya kasi sobrang laki ng matutulong niya sa team.”
But while Irebu may possess the physical attributes and presence inside the court that the Tigresses lacked, she may need to communicate better with her teammates to blend in the team.
Irebu is more fluent in French than in English, which makes conversations harder to comprehend.
“Kumbaga iba ‘yong culture nila roon, so medyo nahihirapan kami makipag-communicate. Pero tina-try namin,” Capilit said.
Irebu’s addition came just in the right time, since the Tigresses lost five players to graduation, including former team captain Jhenn Angeles.
