By Gio Carlo Castro
File photo from UAAP 81

Clare Castro of Far Eastern University (FEU) women’s basketball team is set to be named as the University’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year in seniors division of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 82, the FEU Athletics announced last Sunday, June 28.

“I was taken aback when they told me, but I’m honored to the Scholar-Athlete of the Year from FEU,” she told FEU Advocate in an online interview.

The cagebelle recalled her team’s relationship that helped to overcome struggles of being a student-athlete during her stint with the green-and-gold community.

“Siguro ‘yung bond namin sa team and ‘yung (I think the bond [that we had] within our team and the) love for the game and [for] FEU,” she said.

Castro was also named in the UAAP season 82 mythical team last year, averaging 15.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks. She also donned the nation’s colors in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games where she bagged two gold medals, respectively in 3x3 and 5x5 basketball events.

Moreover, she shared that playing for Gilas Pilipinas Women will still be included among her plans if given the opportunity as she looks to explore other paths too.

“If given the chance, I’ll continue playing for the national team while planning out my career outside basketball for the future,” she said.

Castro then highlighted the core values of FEU: fortitude, excellence, and uprightness – as one of the important learnings that she applied throughout her UAAP journey which kept her driven and motivated. She added that these values will be helpful for her in the coming years.

“[The] FEU core values, na-apply ko siya habang nag-aaral pa ako, na-apply ko siya sa basketball and ma-a-apply ko siya sa future events or sa future career path ko (I was able to apply it while I’m studying, in playing basketball, and I can [also] apply it to my future events or my future career path),” she remarked.

The said recognition is annually given by the league’s officials for student-athletes who both excel in academics and sports. All eight participating schools will have one from collegiate level and juniors division.