FEU’s Toni Rose Basas. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Far Eastern University junior Toni Rose Basas is unafraid of the Final Four lights as relished the pressure the Lady Tamaraws placed upon her all-season long.
Basas said that whenever her team relies on her, she just has to remember her coaches are always there to support her.
“I’m not afraid to make mistakes and I’ve become braver over the course of the season,” said Basas after FEU eliminated University of the Philippines from Final Four contention, 25-16, 25-16, 27-25, Wednesday.
READ: Lady Tamaraws eliminate Lady Maroons
“If ever I commit a mistake, I always think that I have to get it back no matter what.”
Basas made a statement in the third set of their match against the Lady Maroons when she switched roles with Bernadeth Pons.
The third-year Basas usually plays the opposite hitter role but FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos decided to change things up a bit and put her in Pons’ outside hitter position.
Nevertheless, Pons and Basas still clicked as the Lady Tamaraws held off the Lady Maroons.
“We needed speed on our outside hitter position, and it clicked,” said FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos. “Chin (Basas’ nickname) can play both the outside and opposite positions so she was able to execute.”
Basas finished with a team-high 12 points to lead the Lady Tamaraws and she’s perfectly fine with handling the team’s scoring duties.
“Of course I’m happy with my performance and I didn’t expect that I would finish with that many points,” said Basas. “I just think of what the coaches taught me.”