DUBBED BY Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) Head Coach LA Mumar as the “Shaquille O’Neal” of the team, rookie Kacey dela Rosa has dominated the collegiate scene through her exceptional athleticism and talent. In her team’s quest for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 title, the young prodigy has flourished from being a self-doubting bench player to the most confident star player on the court.

A star is born

Before becoming one of the star recruits of UAAP Women’s Basketball, Kacey first tried another ballgame to test her physical skills. She initially played for her volleyball team in high school, but it was not long until she realized that shooting hoops was something she could be better at.

Realizing her potential for basketball, Kacey wasted no time and tried out for different teams—eventually landing a spot in Chiang Kai Shek College’s (CKSC), one of the top schools in the country with a renowned athletics program. She humbly admitted that qualifying for the CKSC high school girls basketball team was beyond her expectations due to her premature basketball skills then.

“Syempre, hindi ko in-expect kasi wala pa akong masyadong alam sa basketball. Ang alam ko lang mag-shoot at tumakbo (Of course, I did not expect to get into the team because I didn’t know much about basketball back then. All I knew how to do was to shoot and run),” she shared.

Despite her natural talent, Kacey’s development into a basketball superstar was not accomplished overnight. She started her athletic career as a bench player in the CKSC lineup, which included several future Perlas Pilipinas players like Ann Pingol, Tin Cayabyab, and Angel Surada. Thus, the confidence and leadership that Kacey showcases at present can be attributed to her ample time playing against and training with the country’s cream of the crop then.

Undeterred by the limited playing time she was given during her high school years, Kacey’s beaming potential still shone through, with CKSC Coach Jana Sy deciding to give her more specialized training. In fact, it was also during her high school stint that Kacey first started dreaming of playing in the premier collegiate league while steadily honing her skills under the tutelage of her coach.

Away from home

While on the path of development, Kacey had her sights set on Basketball without Border (BWB), a prestigious basketball program reserved for the best young international talent. Sanctioned by the National Basketball Association and the International Basketball Federation, BWB allows budding athletes to be featured on the international stage and play in front of world-renowned coaches and recruiters. With the goal of showcasing her gifts in basketball to the rest of the world, the future Blue Eagle auditioned for the program and eventually got the call to join last August.

The opportunity then opened the door for Kacey to grow as an athlete and unlock the talents that she currently possesses. However, this big break came at a price, as Kacey felt under the weather during the four-day camp—a factor that could have potentially affected her play. Nevertheless, this did not stop her from racking up all-star nods for her stellar showing in the BWB games alongside another Ateneo High School standout, Jared Bahay.

Despite the road bumps that Kacey faced over the course of the international camp, the highly-touted rookie did not take her membership in the camp for granted: “Super saya ko na i-represent ang Pilipinas sa gano’ng level ng basketball. (I was super happy to represent the Philippines with that level of basketball).”

Kacey’s motivation to perform well in the camp was, in part, because of the fact that she wears the name of her beloved country on her back. Ultimately, all the experiences she gained from the short basketball program molded her into the elite center she is now.

A shining rookie

Now transitioning to the college ranks, the potential that Kacey showed in CKSC and the BWB camp is coming to fruition as she plays her first season with Ateneo.

As of writing, she is already averaging 20 points, 16 boards, and three blocks as the starting center in her first six games of UAAP Season 85. Her impressive performance in the first round of eliminations was further highlighted by a career-high monster production of 30 points and 20 rebounds against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. This performance is proof of the great poise that the 6’0” big has shown for a rookie, fully capable of capitalizing on her good shot selection and ability to anticipate rebounds.

Another welcome development in the season is her indisputable chemistry with starting point guard and captain Jhazmin Joson. With their savvy and efficient on-court connection, Kacey has been likened to Shaq finishing at the rim, while Joson has been dubbed as her Kobe Bryant who puts up the points from the perimeter. The deadly Kacey-Jhazmin combo has continued to propel the Blue Eagles in their quest for the Final Four, and hopefully, the championship crown.

Despite being lauded both the Rookie of the Year award and a Mythical Five citation, Kacey is still yet to be satisfied with her play. She mentions, “Hindi pa ‘yun ‘yung best ko (That’s not my best yet),” she said.

As the season goes on, Kacey will continue to improve on what she has already displayed on the court. The ultimate goal for her is never the individual awards but the opportunity to bring the UAAP Women’s Basketball title to Ateneo—a feat that has not been done in 15 years.

As Kacey is slowly entrusted with a bigger role on the team, a willingness to lead her squad is next on the agenda for the young stalwart.

Nowhere but up

The individual and team success will likely continue to soar for the Filipino native, as her UAAP career is still very much ahead of her. The combination of physical gifts, overall skill, and mental grit is proof that the sky’s the limit for Kacey.

In just her debut season, she has already played a huge role in improving the squad’s identity. The team’s collective effort, combined with Kacey’s strong presence on and off the court, has resulted in the Blue Eagles’ shift from bottom dwellers in Season 82 to Final Four contenders in Season 85. Kacey helped make all of this possible by beefing up the frontcourt with her ability to aid teammates, clean up the misses, and fortify the paint thanks to her overwhelming physique and jaw-dropping talent.

These gifts will only lead her to more consistent production, especially now that the squad views her as the main weapon on the floor. Moreover, the departure of key players in the future will eventually make Kacey the next offensive cornerstone for Ateneo, giving her more opportunities to break records in the UAAP.

Kacey dela Rosa will continue to make waves in the UAAP landscape, and it is time that people take notice—because her rise has only just begun.