A few days after last year’s UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament Finals, Patrice Dabao announced on her social media that she would be signing off as the UAAP correspondent for La Salle after serving for two glorious seasons. But being back on the courtside for the Volleyball Tournament has her all in her feels, leaving her torn between closing this chapter gracefully or opening her doors to more seasons of frontrow moments.
Wake and debate
Just when her fans thought they would see the last of her iconic presence this season, Dabao revisited her life-changing decision, “I thought I was done, but coming back courtside for the Volleyball Tournament made me relive all of the things I love about being a correspondent–the energy, the thrill, and having a very close look at the games.” Standing at the sidelines, the familiar buzz of the crowd and the electrifying atmosphere brought her back to the days when she was just venturing into this unknown path.
The correspondent also admits that the support from the community has led her to rethink her decision. “Every day, I get comments, messages, even handwritten letters–Yes, letters!–telling me to stay for one more year or that they’ll miss me when I leave.” Sharing the same sentiments with her fans, Dabao found it even harder to accept that this journey of hers was about to end soon. “The love and support has gotten really overwhelming, but in a good way. It makes me think all the time, ‘How can I walk away from something that’s given me so much fame?’”
Mic drop
What was meant to be a saddening exit has now turned into the biggest dilemma yet. Dabao continues to enjoy the crowd’s energy and heart full of stamina in every courtside moment. After deep reflection, she has decided to sign on for one more year. “I told myself this was it, but then I heard the crowd go ecstatic and saw my family looking at me from the bleachers with their biggest smiles, and suddenly, I’m thinking, ‘What’s one more season?’” She admits. From getting ready backstage to interviewing the players, the whole experience has become the best of her life, making it hard for her to let go.
Adding to the weight of her decision is the UAAP Season 100, an unmissable milestone that everyone wants to witness up close. “It’s going to be a historic moment for all,” Dabao exclaims. The privilege of representing DLSU for the 100th season is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially since her fans are eager for her to stay. She got caught up in all the emotions. With the weight of history and the love from her supporters, the courtside queen made the big decision to stay on for even more years with the Lasallian community.
Courtside pledge
Although the UAAP’s 100th season is still 13 years away, Dabao believes she is more than qualified to extend her reign, with a game plan. To be a correspondent for the UAAP, one must continue their studies at a UAAP school. Dabao vows to take her postgraduate degrees at DLSU to maintain her eligibility, “Since I’m staying as a UAAP correspondent until Season 100, I think that will give me enough time to study another undergraduate degree, then I’ll proceed to medical school, and after that, I’ll go to law school. All of which at DLSU, of course.”
This recent news has garnered a lot of attention from UAAP fans, who also shared their thoughts on X. Lady Spiker fan @angelcaninokalang shared her excitement over Dabao’s decision, “Omg Ate Pat! We are so proud of you! I hope Angel can stay until Season 100 too!”
La Salle fans unanimously agreed that Dabao is more than qualified to extend her reign for another 13 years. Her excellent reports and refreshing aura can surely captivate audiences and bring unmatched energy to the UAAP games.
What began as a farewell has become a bold declaration—Dabao is not going anywhere. Fueled by her love for the game, she has decided to stay on as DLSU’s correspondent, making her mark on UAAP’s historic centennial season and as the potential longest-staying UAAP courtside reporter.
With her unwavering commitment and signature presence, Dabao is ready to balance her academics while ensuring she will not miss a single UAAP game. From reporting the thrill of the games to pursuing multiple degrees, this icon will surely keep the crowd wanting more. Luckily for the fans, with 13 more seasons ahead, the courtside queen’s legacy is just beginning.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s Spoof 2025 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSSpoof2025.