For broadcast journalist Pia Arcangel, covering the UAAP was “the best of both worlds”. Photos by Roehl Niño Bautista

Long before Trish Roque, Sharon Yu, Tracy Abad, Lia Cruz, and Gretchen Fullido made UAAP basketball more exciting by charming the viewers from the courtside, Pia Arcangel already made history by being one of the few women (besides cheerleaders!) who were allowed inside access into the male-dominated college ball arena.

As the first ever courtside reporter for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, Pia bore witness to the early days of UAAP broadcasting. And just like most of the other that followed her, it’s the love of the game and support for her school that made her take on the challenge.

“I was actually a fresh grad already when I tried out to be Ateneo’s courtside reporter. It was summer when they put out posters for the auditions, and though I wasn’t that confident of my basketball knowledge, I really loved watching the UAAP, and upon the encouragement of my friends, I decided to give it a try,” recalls Pia.

The AB Communication graduate occupied the  Ateneo courtside reporter post in Season 63, when the games were first aired on Studio 23. She shares that she misses just sitting on the courtside and witnessing how the players interact. “Usually, when you’re from the media, players feel like they have to keep secrets from you. But when you’re a courtside reporter, they treat you as part of the team. They’re very welcoming.”

She also met her future husband, sportscaster Mico Halili, during her UAAP stint.

Of the many things she learned on the job, one that stands out is the lesson she learned as the Blue Eagles mourned when they lost twice to the FEU Tamaraws despite having the twice to beat advantage in the Final Four (DLSU went on for a 3-peat this season). “Everyone was hoping that that was the year we would make it back to the finals, but then we lost, and the second game loss was because of free throws pa,” she says. “I remember it was so hard for me to interview the players after that because everyone was so heartbroken, including us. I was a young journalist so to speak and I didn’t know yet how to separate emotions from actual coverage so it was a difficult thing for me to do.”

Pia’s experience as a UAAP courtside reporter definitely helped train her for the bigger pond that is newscasting. “Ever since college, I really wanted to do news but I remember Sev Sarmienta, who is a sportscaster and was also my professor, would always say that sports is really the greatest training for news because it has all the same elements,” she notes. “You have to be factual, you have to not be biased; the elements of coverage are the same, but in sports the pressure is not yet as high—there’s more elbow room in sports so it’s the perfect place to start. And so after I did my courtside days, I applied here in GMA as a reporter.”

She has since then covered various beats and hosted many shows for the network.  Aside from her reporting duties, Pia was also the face of child-oriented show Art Angel, and is a regular mainstay at Unang Hirit. She also anchors Balitanghali with Raffy Tima on GMA News TV,  and 24 Oras Weekend together with Jiggy Manicad on GMA 7.

Her advice to aspiring courtside reporters? “Just enjoy it because for me, it’s the best of both worlds: It’s a little bit of entertainment and little bit of news, so it’s really a fun thing to cover. Make the most out of it.”

And what about her thoughts on her school’s four-peat? “Hopefully it continues on to be a five-peat! But like what Coach Norman said, it’s still a long way to go so let’s not think about it first. You know, back when I was covering, Ateneo’s winning streak was just about to start, so I think it’s really exciting now, for Ateneo especially, it’s such a great time to cover and I’m really hopeful that the team will continue the winning streak,” Pia muses. – with reports from Roehl Niño Bautista & Neph Kirong

(Running throughout the UAAP Season, ‘Tales from the courtside’ catches up with former courtside reporters who have charmed sports fans and televiewers alike during their term as representatives of the association’s member universities. Previously featured were Trish Roque, Tracy Abad and Sharon Yu)