Rookie plays like seasoned vet in UP's huge UAAP women's hoops win vs NU

MANILA, Philippines — UP newcomer and Gilas Pilipinas women standout Louna Ozar drew praise from head coach Paul Ramos after making key baskets late in their 72-69 win over the NU Lady Bulldogs to keep their record perfect in UAAP Season 86 on Sunday.

In her first taste of action with the Maroons, after missing their first two assignments due to national team duties, Ozar showed no signs of rookie jitters.

Ramos placed the young Filipino-French baller in the starting lineup for the Diliman-based team, and she repaid his trust with an impressive output of nine points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.

More importantly, Ozar was the one to convert on the dagger to put UP ahead by five, 72-67, with 2.5 ticks remaining on the clock.

Asked if he was surprised by the way the Gilas youth standout performed, Ramos said he had high expectations for Ozar, which she subsequently met.

“It’s expected. She’s a competitor. She’s a winner. She has more experience than us as the coaches, or maybe [not] against Coach [Emilia] Vega,” Ramos quipped after the game.

“So, my words of wisdom will not add to the value of how good this player is already.”

Ramos, even before playing in her first game in the collegiate ranks, already has a lot of international experience under her belt. During her time with the Gilas women, Ozar was able to share the court with some of the Philippines’ best in women’s basketball.

So when the freshman came back for Ramos, he simply told her to play her game and everything else will come.

In fact, the Ramos said there was more he could take away from coaching Ozar than vice versa. 

“For me, I just wanted to tell [Louna] before the game, I told her just to enjoy the moment, enjoy the experience, be in the moment and enjoy the game because she knows what to do. She’s very mature. I’m learning more to how she’s playing than from how I coached for the last 20 years. I learned a lot from her today,” he said.

Ozar, for her part, relished in being able to help her team as quickly as she did, helping them end a 12-year losing drought against the mighty Lady Bulldogs.

“I was really excited for my first game… I see my team really perform well and I