Camille Nolasco focused on grander purpose as she juggles UP, Gilas duties

MANILA, Philippines – Camille Nolasco had just come from a game with Gilas Pilipinas women in the Pinoyliga Women’s Cup when she arrived at the Gatorade Hoops Center on Sunday to lead Team Buckets over Team Stars in the main event of the SLAM Rising Stars Classic 2024.

There were only about five minutes left before tip-off when she arrived. She quickly got dressed in Team Buckets’ black sleek jerseys and in no time, she was ready to go once again.

Though she didn’t start for her team, the incoming UP freshman provided the spark off the bench as she led her squad in a resounding victory in the 40-minute exhibition game. With her sharp shooting and flashy passes, Nolasco left the audience enamored.

When one thinks about it, what the young guard was able to do in a matter of hours was impressive.

But managing her time and juggling between her various basketball responsibilities aren’t new for Nolasco, as she’s currently working both with her collegiate team UP and the national team.

As her first year in the UAAP looms in the coming months, she’s also set to join Gilas Pilipinas in their next tournament — the pre-qualifiers for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Rwanda.

Shrugging off exhaustion, the 19-year-old said that she had no problem sacrificing rest to give her best for all of her teams.

“Syempre po binabalance ko lang po [yung time]. I mean, andoon yung pagod pero ang iniisip ko po is temporary lang naman po yung pagod eh,” Nolasco told the media after winning the SLAM Rising Stars Classic MVP. 

“As long as I’m enjoying po and I love what I’m doing, and bigger po yung nirerepresent ko right now especially I’m representing UP, I’m representing the Philippines, so binibigay ko lang po yung best ko every time I play,” she added.

It wasn’t just Nolasco that made it to the Gatorade Hoops Center, though, as a good number of the Gilas women’s team also headed to the venue to catch the action, as the game featured not just Nolasco, but also another national team player in Kai Oani for Team Stars.

Knowing that her older teammates had to fit it in their tight schedule, Nolasco was more than grateful to see them on the stands.

“It really means a lot po especially galing po sila ng game. Dun rin po ako actually nanggaling, and sobrang iba po yung feeling na they’re always there to support us, each other, and sobrang thankful lang kasi they always have my back,” said Nolasco. 

“Marami po akong natutunan sa kanila and sila rin po talaga yung mga taong I look up to. So sobrang thankful lang ako na they support me all the way.” 

Prior to her stay with UP and the senior national team, Nolasco was a product of the Jr. NBA program, the Gilas Pilipinas women youth teams and the Basketball Without Borders Camp.