FOR GROWLING Tigresses team captain Tin Capilit, heart—not height—is might.
At 4’11,” she is among the smallest players in the UAAP this season. But her responsibilities for her team are enormous after playing only 8 minutes per game last season.
Capilit led the Tigresses in scoring in their first two outings, averaging 18 points per game (ppg), a huge improvement from her 2.3 ppg output last season.
“For Tin, heart is might, that is why she deserves to be the captain of the team, pinapakita niya lagi ‘yong fighting heart niya every game,” Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong told the Varsitarian.
With the 22-year-old Capilit’s height being her disadvantage, she countered it with her agility to blow past her defenders.
“Maliit ako so ‘yon ang disadvantage ko, malaki sila so ang disadvantage nila ay mabagal sila so dinadaan ko sila sa bilis, tinatakbuhan ko sila, nilulusutan ko sila,” Capilit said.
Aside from her agility, Capilit said she worked on her outside shooting during the offseason, as advised by Ong and assistant coach Arsenio Dysangco.
Her shooting improvement was evident in their first two outings as she had already made four treys, same as her last season’s total output.
For Capilit, defense is the key to be able to execute plays in the offensive side of the court, the reason for her four rebounds per game this season.
“Laging sinasabi ng coaches sa akin na ‘mag depensa ka, doon papasok ang opensa mo’ so every time na pumapasok ako, nag-de-depensa ako tapos totoo nga, kusang dadating ang opensa,” she said.
With a better team chemistry this Season 81, Capilit is confident that the Tigresses can make it back to the finals after placing third last year.
“Naglalaro ‘yong team namin ng best when we are together, this year ramdam na ramdam namin na kayang kaya namin kasi iba na ‘yong skill level namin pero hindi pa rin kami masyado magpapakampante,” she said.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sports and wellness management, Capilit pursued graduate studies to be able to suit up for the Tigresses for the fifth and last time.
“Nag-stay ako kasi gusto kong bigyan ‘yong UST ng championship bago ako umalis,” the Development Studies freshman said.
The Tigresses’ last finals appearance was in Season 69 where they defeated the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in three outings.
