Off the Bench

GAWAD ATLETA 2026: Celebrating Excellence Beyond the Game.

Every year, HCDC proudly continues the tradition of Gawad Atleta. A special celebration dedicated to recognizing the passion, perseverance, discipline, and remarkable achievements of our student-athletes.

More than the medals, trophies, and victories, Gawad Atleta honors the hard work, sacrifices, and commitment that our athletes demonstrate both on the playing field and in the classroom.

Congratulations to all awardees.👏
Padayon Atletang HCDC!👌

Congratulations to Lleonor Noquil on receiving a well-deserved Leadership Award! 🎉👏

This recognition is a testament to her dedication, commitment, and outstanding service to the team. Her hard work, sportsmanship, and willingness to serve others have made a meaningful impact on the entire team.

She leads by example and reminds us that being a great captain is not just about guiding the team to victory, but also about encouraging teammates, building unity, and giving your best in every moment. 💪❤️

Congratulations El and good luck on your future endeavors. The Holy Cross of Davao College Womens Basketball team sincerely thank you for your service and dedication to our team!♥️ See you around!👌

From powerful athletes to graceful and radiant women, they truly know how to bring their A-game both on and off the court! 💐

Thank you HCDC Womens Basketball Alumni x Brothers Basketball team for a wonderful tune-up game!

Great teamwork, sportsmanship, laughter, and camaraderie on and off the court.

Thank you for the amazing game.👌

❤️🤍💙

Thank you to the Hcdc women's basketball
alumni x Naning Athletics for taking the time to play a valuable tune-up game with us!

Wishing you continued success both on and off the court. We look forward to crossing paths again soon!

📸: LC

Rookie Spotlight.

ANGEL FATE R. LAPUZ

The Silent Storm ⛈️

Success is earned through discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment. For Angel Fate R. Lapuz, known as "Gel," basketball is more than just a sport it is a responsibility she embraces with passion and determination. Hailing from Belinda Home Relocation, Brgy. Ilang, Davao City, Gel continues to prove that consistent hard work and humility can turn dreams into achievements.

From representing Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School (2023–2026) to competing in the Escandor Cup, Gel has built an impressive basketball résumé. She is a 4-time Palarong Pambansa participant, earning 1 Silver Medal and 2 Bronze Medal, along with being a 4-time DAVRAA Gold Medalist and 4-time DCAA Gold Medalist. She has also showcased her talent in the DPBL, GG Cup, and various 3x3 basketball tournaments, proving that her passion for the game knows no limits.

Beyond the medals and victories is a young athlete who describes herself as fun, joyful, caring, and supportive. Whether she's pushing herself through strength and conditioning workouts, competing in tournaments, listening to music, or spending quality time with family and friends, Gel continues to grow both as a player and as a person.

Her guiding principle is simple but powerful: "Dream big, stay humble, and never stop improving." It's a mindset that fuels every practice, every game, and every challenge she faces.

This season marks a new chapter as Gel begins her collegiate basketball journey with Holy Cross of Davao College. Wearing new colors but carrying the same determination, she is ready to embrace bigger challenges, continue her development, and proudly represent her school on the collegiate stage.

To every aspiring women basketball player, Gel has this message:

"The game needs you.
Keep working, keep believing, and keep playing for the girl who's watching you right now. Your hustle today is someone else's inspiration tomorrow. So take the shot. Own the court. And remember women's basketball isn't just growing, it's rising because of you."

CTTO📸 photo not mine.

Rookie Spotlight.

Ivonne Chesca A. Paderanga

Cool Cat Ica 🐯

Every great adventure begins with a dream waiting to be chased. For Ivonne Chesca "Ica" Paderanga, that dream led her to the basketball courts of Purok 2 Linoan, Montevista, Davao de Oro. Where every practice became a challenge to conquer, every game a new chapter, and every setback a lesson that made her stronger.

With determination as her compass and hard work as her guide, she continues to chase her dreams with courage, passion, and perseverance.

In 2019, Ica earned her place on the Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School women's basketball team. Through years of dedication, discipline, and countless hours on the court, she continued to sharpen her game until graduating in 2025.

Her hard work reached new heights when she represented her team at the Palarong Pambansa 2025 in Ilocos Norte, helping secure the Silver Medal and earning a well-deserved place in the tournament's Mythical Five.

Off the court, Ica is dedicated, disciplined, and curious. When she's not training, she enjoys playing the guitar, finding balance between competition and creativity.

Living by her motto, "Keep learning, keep growing, keep going," Ica embraces every challenge as another opportunity to become better.

To aspiring women basketball players, she leaves this message:
"Believe in your strength, trust your hard work, and never let anyone limit your dreams. The court is where you prove what you're capable of."

As Ica begins a new chapter with the Holy Cross of Davao College Women's Basketball Team, another adventure awaits,one filled with bigger goals, tougher battles, and opportunities to leave her mark on the game.👌

CTTO📸 photo not mine.

Rookie Spotlight.

Fairy Donna D. Flores

Fearless Fairy 🧚

Every athlete has a story, and for Fairy Donna D. Flores, it began in Brgy. 37-D, Trading Boulevard, Purok 5, Davao City. What started as a love for basketball slowly grew into a dream fueled by hard work, discipline, and unwavering determination.

Donna first stepped onto the court during her years at Erico T. Nograles National High School, where she started playing basketball in the 2021–2022 season.

As her passion for the game continued to grow, she competed in the Unit Meet 2024–2025, where her talent and dedication caught the attention of coaches from Davao City National High School. That opportunity became the beginning of a new chapter in her basketball journey.

With every training session and every game, Donna continued to prove herself. She helped her team earn 3rd Runner-Up in the GG Cup, 1st Runner-Up in the DPBL, and 3rd Runner-Up in the Escandor Tournament. Her greatest achievement came when she and her team qualified for DAVRAA, where they proudly won the Gold Medal and secured a spot as PALARO 2025–2026 Qualifiers.

Beyond the court, Donna is known for her generous heart, humble attitude, friendly personality, and loving nature. When she's not playing basketball, she enjoys endorsing products and making meaningful connections with people.

Guided by her personal motto, "It's all about the journey, not the outcome," Donna understands that success isn't achieved overnight. Every challenge, every practice, and every sacrifice has shaped the player she is today.

To aspiring athletes, she shares this advice: "If you want to become who you want to become, you have to work hard for it, train, and be disciplined. Even when it takes time, be patient, because eventually, that time will come."

Now, as she begins her journey with the Holy Cross of Davao College Women's Basketball Team, Donna brings not only talent but also determination, humility, and the heart to keep chasing bigger dreams,one game at a time.

ROOKIE SPOTLIGHT.

JADAH "JA/JAD" ANDAYA

The BULL🐂

Every journey begins with a single step, and for Jadah "Ja/Jad" Andaya of Montevista, Davao de Oro, that step led her onto the basketball court where passion met purpose.

In 2023, she began making her mark at the DDOPAA Meet, proving that hard work always finds its spotlight. Her determination carried her to the Provincial Meet in Pantukan and from there she kept chasing bigger dreams, representing Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa 2026 in Agusan del Sur.

Today, she proudly stands as a Palarong Pambansa Bronze Medalist, a testament to every sacrifice, every practice, and every challenge she refused to back down from.

Off the court, Jadah is the kind of person who embraces life with enthusiasm. Whether she's playing basketball, cooking, singing, or simply making the people around her smile, she believes every moment is worth living to the fullest except, as she jokingly admits, waking up early.😁

Guided by her motto, "Earned, not given," Jadah understands that success isn't handed to anyone. It's built through discipline, resilience, and the courage to keep going when the road gets tough.

To every aspiring women basketball player, her message is simple yet powerful:
"Own your space, embrace the grind, and never let anyone limit your potential. You are building a legacy not just for yourself, but for the next generation of girls stepping onto the court."

This is only the beginning of Jadah Andaya's story. And if her journey has shown us anything, it's that the best chapters are still waiting to be written.👌

CTTO📸 photo not mine.