"Playing in Malaysia has made me a better player" - Afril Bernardino

Afril Bernardino had come a long way from becoming the leader of NU in their unbeaten UAAP title runs to become the heart and soul of the Gilas Pilipinas Women.

But most people do not realized that in between those, she went overseas just to play ball.

On Friday's live special in Off The Record With Migs Bustos, the Cainta cager recalled her experience with Malaysia's Hatchers Valkyries in 2018, a year after her swansong with NU in which she delivered the Lady Bulldog's its third successive clean sweep.

Even before she stepped into the plane, Bernardino had a mixed bag of thoughts as she embarked on a journey to continue playing.

"Bago ako makapunta dun, actually di ako makatulog," she said, realizing that it will be more intense there rather than back home, with Malaysia were then the reigning two-time SEA Games champions. "Di ko alam kung excited or natatakot ako."

 Turns out she was right about the shock that she will experience, noting that on her first hours since arriving, it was different from her end in NU.

"Pagpunta ko doon parang ang bilis, pag gising ko, kain lang ako konti tas training na agad. During training, grabe yung practice nila."

What was in their training regimen?

"Planting rice agad, tapos yung workout. Yung first day ng practice namin, 150 pushups and yung superman na core workout," she then said. 

"Oo, sobra. Nag cramps na yung legs ko."

As if that was the hardest part, the game itself was on a different notch, and she admitted that the language barrier made it hard for herself, but she has to endure it knowing that there were some doubts on her ability..

"'Pag laro na, mahirap din kasi mag-huhuddle ka during the game hindi ko sila maintindihan."

But if she wanted to succeed there, adjustments must be made.

"Nag-adjust ako na basahin na lang yung galaw nila. Yung mga pinag-aral nila na play, nakikinig lang ako."

With that, Bernardino helped the Hatchers to the semifinals of the MWBL where her lone season was put to an end by NS Matrix who had fellow Gilas Women teammates Allana Lim and France Mae Cabinbin on their squad.

In that game, Bernardino poured in 22 points in the postseason, a proof that it was worth the risk of getting to play overseas against a much fierce competition.

That stint made her a better player in more ways than one. By the following year, Bernardino used her overseas experience to the hilt as she fired a monster double-double to end the Malaysian reign in the women's 5-on-5 tournament en route to a sweep of the competition.

For Mariana Lopa, the trailblazing path set forth by Lim was something alien to her during their time, in which it gave them the chance to show their game before the WNBL turned fully professional this year.

"Actually, magaling si Allana Lim. Siya yung isa sa pinakaunang nag-explore na mag-import sa ibang bansa." said the former Ateneo Lady Eagle on the ex-FEU big woman. "Siya din nagdadala ng mga ibang players with her."

PHOTO: FIBA (FILE)