LACKING veterans, the UST Growling Tigresses found steadying force in Filipino-American guard Nikki Villasin, who only joined the team in July.
Villasin committed to UST in September 2021 but had to wait almost a year before arriving in the Philippines to join the Tigresses because of travel issues.
But despite being new to the team, Villasin showed in the first round, where she averaged 10.14 points per game (ppg) in 18 minutes per game, that she’s ready to help the Tigresses reach higher heights.
“I’m glad to contribute,” the Chicago native said. “I haven’t played my best game yet. Once I figure out how to use my body here, it’ll definitely be easier to get some shots off.”
Villasin punctuated her impressive first-round performance with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals against the UP Lady Maroons on Oct. 22.
Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong said the 24-year-old guard provided a huge boost to the team in the first round, where UST went 6-1.
“‘Yung experience ni Nikki, it brings a lot to the team, especially to the young ones,” she said.
The Chicago-born recruit won numerous awards and recognitions while playing for North Park University.
In 2016, Villasin bagged first place in the Illinois High School Association Class 4A 3-point state competition. The following year, she was named Athlete of the Month by Harper College.
The 5-foot-3 guard was awarded the Most Valuable Player title by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) of Chicago during the league’s 2018 Ladies Open Division.
Villasin also won the PBA Chicago Ladies Open Division Intercity championship five times.
Aside from the US, Villasin has also played in Wisconsin-based leagues and for Germany during the European Basketball Summer Combine in Philadelphia.
In 2020, Villasin was a member of the Gilas Pilipinas women’s basketball pool.
Adjustments
Villasin said October was the first “normal” month for her in the country.
“The first week I was here, I was jetlagged. The next week, I got health problems. The next week, I got Covid. Every week there was something,” she said. “This is like the first month that I’m like actually healthy.”
Villasin said adjusting to the more physical style of play in the Philippines had been difficult, especially as she joined the team less than three months before the start of UAAP Season 85.
“The game in the US is more different, it’s like it’s more of a dance,” the former figure skater said. “Here, it’s like you have to slug each other. It’s very physical and you have to work off the ball to get your shot.”
Villasin also said she was also still adjusting to UST’s system.
“I definitely play different than them, which is kind of my advantage-slash-disadvantage,” she said. “But [the game here] is more physical. The physicality part shocked me.”
But according to Ong, the two-and-through recruit was very coachable.
“She’s adapting and she’s very coachable so wala naman akong problema,” the coach said.
Team veteran and leading scorer Tacky Tacatac also said Villasin adds flare to the team.
“Itong si Nikki, very coachable siya kahit na galing siya ng ibang bansa,” she said. “Unti unti, nababawasan niya ‘yung mistakes niya and luckily nakikinig siya kay coach and willing siyang baguhin kung ano ‘yung nakasanayan niya. We know na mahirap baguhin ‘yung nakasanayan, pero nakikita mo na she’s willing to adjust in every game.”
Bringing the ‘Chicago mindset’ to UST
Villasin admits she’s a fierce competitor and hopes she will influence her teammates with her fiery spirit.
Villasin is also confident the Tigresses could upset the NU Lady Bulldogs to win the title.
The Tigresses almost pulled off something that’s never been done since 2013 on Oct. 9— topple the Lady Bulldogs—as they fell short against the UAAP women’s basketball behemoths by three points in their first-round matchup. NU ended the first round with a 7-0 record, riding on a 103-game winning streak.
“I’ve been on a team in my Division 3 college where we didn’t beat this one team for 15 years and then that year, my senior year, we beat them,” she said.
Part of where she gets her confidence, Villasin said, was seeing how hard-working her teammates had been.
“I don’t think anyone trains like us,” she said. “We really train our bodies, we meditate together as a team, we pray the rosary every single day together…I feel like every girl on the team takes a lot of pride in their individual defense.”
UST entered Season 85 with a depleted lineup due to injuries and eligibility concerns.
The Growling Tigresses will open the second round with a game against the DLSU Lady Archers on Oct. 29, 8 a.m, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
