Christine Francisco (14) celebrates along with the UST Tigresses. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
She’s still not a household name, not even in Thomasian houses, but she’s working on it.
When Kung Fu Reyes and his Golden Tigresses matched up against the mighty De La Salle University, he knew he had to pull all the stops and that included fielding, and starting, rookie Christine Francisco.
And Francisco delivered.
READ: UAAP: UST shocks La Salle in straight sets
Francisco may have only registered five points, she made her presence felt in the final set when UST swept La Salle for its first win against the girls in green since Season 75.
Her quick attack from the middle gave UST the 20-18 lead before moving into defensive duties as she teamed up with Chloe Cortez to deny Mary Joy Baron for the 21-19 lead.
Reyes said Francisco has an uncanny talent to go into an extra gear whenever she faces La Salle.
“I know her very well and pag kalaban La Salle lumalabas yung sungay niyan, actually pangil,” Reyes said of his rookie. “Since high school pag kalaban La Salle iba.”
“Meron kasi yung iba pag nakakakita ng green takot eh, nakakakita ng dilaw takot, iba si Christine talagang buo loob pag kalaban di ko rin alam baka motivation.
Francisco’s knack for going the extra mile against La Salle began when she was still in high school and going up against the girls from Zobel was an added fuel to her fire.
“Kasi nung high school po parang may rivalry na ang UST High at Zobel at doon na rin po siguro na mold,” Francisco said.
For the past nine seasons, UST High and La Salle Zobel shared seven titles between them and both had three-peats with Seasons 70 until 72 belonging to the black-and-gold while Seasons 73 until 75 painted with white-and-green.
Francisco said she prepares against La Salle the same way she prepares when she would face other teams but it’s the spirit of rivalry that motivates her to do more.
“Natural na lang pong lumalabas.”