New women’s 3-point record owner shares UAAP mark with NU coach and one legendary shooter
The names beside hers should make Luisa San Juan even more thrilled about the record she just achieved.
Especially that one name.
San Juan knocked down a women’s record of 10 triples as she led La Salle to an 89-65 rout of Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 87 basketball tournament on Wednesday.
Those 10 triples also matched the men’s record shared by two players: current National U coach Jeff Napa and the legendary Allan Caidic, a former University of the East standout and PBA superstar who was once one of the most feared shooters in the continent.
“Congratulations to her,” Caidic told the Inquirer late Wednesday when he learned of San Juan’s feat.
“I’m happy with the way today’s generation of basketball players are focusing on the three-point shot. Before, it was really a lot of post and one-on-one moves,” the many-time national team gunner added.
San Juan’s 10 three-pointers broke the record held by former La Salle guard and Gilas Pilipinas shooter Khate Castillo, who hit eight three-pointers in a 67-60 loss to Adamson University on October 29, 2017.
“I actually didn’t know that I had 10 threes during the game I was just doing my best to help the team and I was surprised when people were telling me that it was a record in the UAAP,” San Juan told the Inquirer. “I’m really grateful to be able to showcase what women, in a male-dominant sport, can also do.”
Caidic set the men’s record in Season 48 in 1985, which Napa later matched in Season 65 in a game against Adamson.
“I got my confidence from my teammates and my coaches. They believe in me, and the trust that they give me, that’s the biggest thing for me,” the 22-year-old Lady Archer said during the post-game presser. “I don’t know the records, but I’m grateful. I wasn’t expecting that, I just do my role and I think it starts with doing whatever coach Cholo (Villanueva) asks of me.”
San Juan wound up with 34 points to lead La Salle, an output that tied the season’s best single-game output set by Ateneo’s Kacey dela Rosa against University of the Philippines last Sept. 8.
Her performance also led La Salle to its first win in the women’s division this season, snapping a four-game slide. The Lady Archers forced a tie with the Lady Tamaraws at 1-4 (win-loss).
“The only goal I had for todays game was to help the team in any way that I can and get our first win of the season,” San Juan told the Inquirer. “The record is just a bonus for me and I wouldn’t have accomplished that without the help of my teammates.”
“We’re breaking records here in the program of the Lady Archers, but seriously, it’s a good win for us. The grit that I wanted to see from the girls, they showed it today,” said Villanueva, the Las Salle head coach who also mentored Castillo back in UAAP Season 80.
La Salle was coming off a 65-47 defeat to UE three days ago, when the Lady Warriors ended a 40-game losing streak.
La Salle will now look to build on this momentum and secure a second straight win when they face reigning champion University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at the Big Dome. INQ
