TOP TIGRESS Lore Rivera ended her collegiate career without a title, her squad’s final game against Far Eastern University (FEU) still haunting her.
With the Lady Tamaraws ahead only by a point, the former national team standout recalled how confident she was that she can execute the game-winning play designed for her.
“I told myself, ‘I can do it.’ I knew I can make the basket and the game was still ours,” she recalled.
But Rivera couldn’t deliver despite 3.8 seconds still left in the game as the Tigresses missed a chance to meet defending champion De La Salle University for a shot at the title.
Rivera, 21, recalled weeping afterward, realizing she was ending her stint with UST without a title.
But the pain of not winning a championship is the one thing that the Human Resource senior will not forget.
Despite a stellar off-season for the Tigresses, Rivera, the team captain, admitted that she was not playing her usual game during the onset of the tournament. Her performance affected the team, forcing the Tigresses to play catch-up as the season progressed.
“There was already pressure after four games because we wanted to get the number two spot. But we have been too complacent, which resulted in a disappointing record,” the Pampanga-native said.
At the latter part of the season and especially when a Final Four slot was on the line, Rivera found her rhythm and almost single-handedly carried the Tigresses, saying that backing down was never an option.
“Hindi ko alam kung paano tutulungan ‘yung sarili ko kasi, as team captain, hindi lang sarili ko ang iisipin ko, dapat pati ‘yung teammates ko,” Rivera said. “Buwis buhay na ako pag naglalaro, kung pwede lang ako sa lahat ng spots, gagawin ko.”
Despite the grief that came as the season ended, Rivera still considered this year as the best in her entire UAAP stint.
Rivera first arrived at the Tigers’ lair in 2008 but stopped playing in 2010 due to academic deficiencies and problems with then coach Julie Amos.
The Mythical Five member recalled how the former coach belittled her family’s status when her parents went to UST for a meeting about her standing with the team.
“Sabi niya [Amos] sa parents ko, ‘Bakit, saan pupunta ‘yung anak ninyo? Sa La Salle? Kaya niya ba makipagsabayan sa mga tao dun, ni-pagdadamit nga hindi niya kaya,” Rivera narrated.
After that encounter, Rivera decided to pursue her basketball career in other schools and started to train with FEU and National University.
But, as good faith would have it, she suited up again for the Tigresses in 2011 after UST officials called for her return, citing that a new head coach would lead the team.
The new coach, who still chalks up plays for the team, is former UAAP MVP Chris Cantonjos.
Rivera did not have a happy ending with the Growling Tigresses, but her journey left an indelible mark not only to her team, but to the entire Thomasian community. Karl Cedrick G. Basco
