The University’s new courtside reporter, Angeline Bea “Billie” Capistrano comes from a family of hardcore La Salle fans.
A junior AB-OCM student and self-confessed health freak, Billie will now be the Lasallians ears and eyes in each Archers’ huddle this UAAP season.
Billie explained her reason for auditioning; she said, “I wanted to give back then to La Salle because they’ve been a big influence to my life and my family’s life.”
Daughter of DLSU Men’s Basketball team manager, Terry Capistrano, she is no stranger to the Green Archers and Lasalle sports.
Getting the job
A courtside reporter from UP asked her to audition, she took the advice, submitted her resume, endured four to five auditions and the rest is history.
“Pakonti ng pakonti ‘yung people, parang eliminations talaga siya [audition process], (The number of people was getting smaller and smaller. It was much like an eliminations) and it’s hard. It was really hard. ‘Cause they give you on the spot work to do, and they put a camera in front of your face,” Billie shared.
“I’ve never done anything like that; they put a camera in front of your face with light and everything, but it was really fun. Yeah, but it was really nerve-wrecking.”
The 20-year old lass as she puts it has been humbled by the opportunity and took the task as a challenge.
“Maybe nagkataon lang na (Maybe it was a coincidence that) they were looking for something, I had it, and what it is, I’m not quite sure though. Like I don’t know what it is, but they saw something in me?” she added
On the courtside duties
Aside from reporting pregame and during quarter breaks, a UAAP courtside reporter has the opportunity to sit on the team’s benches, especially during huddles.
“We study, as in study the games. We try to extract emotions, like emotions from players and coaches, kasi parang ‘yun ung gusto ng mga tao ‘di ba parang (because that is what the people want,) something personal,” Billie said.
She furthers that reporting does not stop with the missed layup or a fantastic play. Reporting delves into the reason and story behind every important facet of the game.
“If a coach says a simple sentence, ano kaya yung meaning nung sentence na ‘yun (what could the sentence mean)? We ask questions,” she furthered.
This gym enthusiast says that the best part of being a courtside reporter is that she has the best seat in the house; she also knows everything that happens in the benches.
According to her though, courtside reporting is not all glamor and fun.
“You will have off days and you will have good days,” Billie said.
“If you stutter, act like nothing happened ‘cause most probably people won’t notice. You never stop and say sorry, never apologize for anything. If you want to say anything, say what you have to say, finish your sentence and move on. Don’t dwell on things that will bring you down,” she elaborated.
Still being herself
Though Billie admits that she is just a normal student, her fame is not surprising at all. In school, many have asked her about her courtside life.
“In school I really don’t care whether they would notice me or not. They always ask me if I’m the courtside [reporter], and they would even ask me to do a sample!” she said.
An Assumption College San Lorenzo graduate, she has kept her feet on the ground.
“Lagi sa amin sinasabi ng people sa ABS-CBN Sports na never let it go to your head na sobrang important ka kasi really we’re just a spec in the whole basketball game (ABS-CBN Sports employees always remind us not to let it go to our heads that we are so important because we are really just a spec in the whole basketball game.),” Billie shared.
For Billie, courtside reporting is not for fame and attention; it is about loving the job and one’s Alma Mater.
“So outside the court, I’m still a La Salle fan, but I can’t show that when I’m reporting. But, I’m really really a big La Salle fan and I think after everything, after this whole courtside reporting, I will still be a La Salle fan. I’ve been one since I was in Grade 2 and I will be one ‘till I’m really old ‘cause that’s how I take pride in my being a Lasallian,” she ended.
