By Leiniel A. Santos

Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraw Josee Kaputu became more motivated as she received the second Mythical Five recognition in her career from the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night, which considered players from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) last June 17.

"Receiving these awards boosts my confidence and motivation to keep improving. They remind me that hard work pays off and inspire me to strive for even greater heights. It's also a great reminder of the support I have from my team and the community, which pushes me to continue working hard and to be a positive role model for aspiring athletes," she said in an online interview with FEU Advocate.

The Tamaraw foreign student-athlete immediately showed her talent during her UAAP debut last Season 86, scoring 27 points in both of her first two games. 

Moreover, Kaputu continued to show her prowess as she tallied her remarkable double-double career-high of 37 markers and 15 rebounds during UAAP’s second elimination round game against the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Despite the progress of her exceptional performance in just one season, the Congolese cagebelle fell short of obtaining the MVP crown, as she ranked second against Ateneo de Manila University’s Kacey Dela Rosa.

Fortunately, Kaputu notched her first Mythical Five award last UAAP Season 86.

With her individual awards, the green-and-gold main gunner expressed gratitude for the help of her coaches and teammates.

"I'm incredibly honored and grateful to receive another Mythical Five award. It's a testament to the hard work, dedication, and support from my teammates, coaches, and everyone involved. It feels great to be recognized for my efforts and to know that I'm contributing positively to the team's success,” she stated.

The Morayta-based center also said that she is now more eager to keep improving for the team.

"This season has been both challenging and rewarding. I've pushed myself to improve in every aspect of my game, and I'm proud of how I've grown as a player. My focus has always been on giving my best for the team, and I'm glad my performance has contributed to our overall success. There are always areas for improvement, and I'm excited to keep working on them," she added.

University of the Philippines’s Favour Onoh, Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa, and UST’s Kent Pastrana and Tantoy Ferrer joined Kaputu in the all-star team. Unfortunately, no players from the NCAA made the cut.

(Photo by Jan Dendiego/FEU Advocate)