WITH THE end of her storied collegiate career just around the corner, Danica Jose takes a moment to reflect on her illustrious basketball career. She has been a member of the mythical five of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) for the past two seasons, as well as a member of the Perlas Pilipinas women’s national team, which participated in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games. And now, she looks to lead her team to the promised land on her final flight as an Ateneo Lady Eagle.
Jose never really viewed basketball as something she would excel in—to her, it was more of a recreational activity. “I started playing basketball when I was around six or seven,” she says. She recalls playing with her cousins and younger brother growing up. Even if she is the daughter of former Philippine Basketball Association player Bobby Jose, she says there was never any pressure on her to play, nor to excel, in this sport.
According to Bobby Jose, he only encouraged his daughter to take up the sport because he saw her grow taller than the average child, and saw her love and interest in the game of basketball.
Being a part of a three-peat championship team for Miriam College as well as a member of the Under-16 and Under-18 national teams, the combination of her height and skill drew attention from a lot of schools. However, when it was time to decide where to take her talents, the Ateneo seemed like an easy choice for Jose. “I guess since my brother and my other cousins were from Ateneo, I think I wanted to get in ever since,” she explains. “It was an easy decision for me [despite] there [being] a lot of schools recruiting me. Aside [from] it being more convenient, it’s our comfort zone already,” she recalls.
As she entered college, Jose’s game and repertoire of moves continued to grow. “She’s not limited to post moves,” Lady Eagles Head Coach Erika Dy says. She adds that Jose’s advantage is that she has the versatility to operate from the outside going in—giving her a huge advantage compared to her counterparts in the UAAP.
However, in spite of Jose’s individual success, her team hasn’t been able to garner a spot in the Final Four. “I think it’s an honor to be part of the mythical five but at the same time, there is no sense of fulfillment because I don’t see the purpose of being part of the individual awards if I can’t bring my team to the finals,” the communications supersenior shares.
Having a former professional basketball player as a father also has its benefits. “He’s a big difference. He’s a big factor in the way I play,” Jose says when asked about her father’s impact on her and her game. “He sees to it that he critiques the way I play and so if he is not satisfied, I know there is something wrong—something to improve on—and you have to take it from him because he knows what he’s taking about,” she adds.
For Bobby Jose, his experiences simply parallel those of his daughter. “She also learned that it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, blood, sweat, and tears to be successful in this game.” His advice to his daughter is, “Play with a big heart! If you will not play 100%, better to not play at all.”
As she plays her final season for the Blue and White, Jose will try to use her experiences to try to bring the Ateneo back to its glory days. “My goal, of course, is to bring the team to the finals,” she says emphatically. Her coach adds that the team is gunning for a championship this season and that she expects that Jose will end her stint with Most Valuable Player honors.
No one really knows what is next for Jose, not even herself. She could continue playing for the national team or she could finally hang up her jersey and move on to the corporate world. Nothing is certain for this Lady Eagle, but the Ateneo community can expect that she will continue to give her all just as she has for the past five years.
