All athletes begin somewhere. While some have clear paths in mind from day one, there are others who find their passions in unlikely places. DLSU Lady Archer Bennette Revillosa is one athlete who realized her talent for basketball after an unexpected turn of events.

Though her foray into basketball might have been unexpected, her sheer dedication has driven her into becoming one of the best in the sport. As she steers through her final season as the team captain of the Lady Archers, The LaSallian sits down with Revillosa to dive into her humble beginnings, her growth as a player, and the way she leads her team in hopes of a successful UAAP Season 82.


Late bloomer

Though her skills might suggest otherwise, Revillosa did not start her athletic career as a basketball player. She started as a track and field athlete in the fifth grade, and it was only during her freshman year of high school when she saw the possibility of being a basketball player. “That’s the time I grew tall, so I had the potential to be on the basketball team,” Revillosa explains. “At the same time, I had the speed since I was part of the track and field team.”

It was a stroke of luck that she transitioned to basketball. The assistant coach of Revillosa’s high school track and field team, who was also the head coach of the women’s basketball team, invited her to try out for basketball. Revillosa was further motivated by her brother, as he was a part of the high school men’s basketball team. He fulfilled an integral role in her early playing days by helping develop her techniques in shooting and dribbling, as well as by playing the game with her to further advance her skills. “He always invited me to play ball or shoot around in our garage,” she shares.

The Lady Archers captain’s late transition to basketball proved to be a successful one. In making the decision to pursue her education and athletic career in DLSU, she added versatility to the Lady Archers with the speed she developed through her track and field background. With her length and quick feet, Revillosa became an agile power forward, boosting the team’s transition offense and defensive rotations.

From humble beginnings

In her rookie year playing for the Lady Archers, Revillosa admitted that she was only given limited playing time. In spite of this, her early experiences marked the start of her exponential growth in the sport. As a newcomer, she was always on the lookout for opportunities to showcase her abilities as a basketball player. She expresses, “During my rookie year, there were no expectations from the coaches. I just played what I [was] capable
of playing.”

The years she spent in DLSU helped Revillosa hone her skills both as an athlete and as a leader. Though it was not always smooth sailing for the captain, she was driven to succeed after facing numerous setbacks. Reflecting on her ups-and-downs, she shares, “I drew a lot from my mistakes, from the team, from the game–everything. Those [years] were a lesson that molded me [into] who I am now.”

From being an unproven rookie to becoming the leader and voice of the Lady Archers, there is a sense of progression in Revillosa’s development as a player. With her years of experience, the lessons that she gained will now be the keys she will use to take charge. As she takes on her role as the spearhead of the team, she affirms, “I need to lead the team, I need to play my game, I need to guide them on and off the court.”



Reaching new heights

Now on her final playing year, Revillosa takes on new responsibilities as team captain, and she recognizes the importance of fostering personal relationships with her entire team. She admits, “It’s hard to motivate each player because they have different perspectives of the game.” However, as a Psychology major, Revillosa strives to understand her teammates as individuals to determine ways of motivating each of them. Additionally, the Lady Archers’ relationship with coach Cholo Villanueva is one they draw inspiration from. “He’s like a father, counselor, [and] teacher,” Revillosa shares. “He teaches us not only basketball, but also life lessons that we can apply when we graduate or in the workplace.”

The veteran further highlights the significance of continuing to perform at her best to serve as a role model for her teammates. In pushing herself, she is able to drive her teammates to do the same. She shares that when the team encountered a tough game, “I tried to lift them up, even though [we were] down so much, and I tried to get my feet back—get my rhythm back.”

As Revillosa leads her team through the rest of the season, she recognizes that with a roster filled with rookies and sophomores, they are still a relatively young team. In spite of this, Revillosa asserts, “The goal is always to get the championship.” The captain believes that the Lady Archers will be a competitive force in every game as they look toward achieving a triumphant UAAP Season 82.

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