Clark Bautista

Clark "Tata" Oliver Daniel Bautista (born September 1, 1990 from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental) is a Filipino professional basketball player. He was picked 34th by the Blackwater Elite in the 2014 PBA draft

UST Growling Tigers

Bautista joined the Growling Tigers in Season 71. Although he got little playing time in his first 2 years, Bautista averaged 6.9 was named to the All-Rookie Team for his rookie season and won the UAAP NCAA All-Star Three Point Contest.

In his third season, Bautista became a starter for the Tigers while averaging 11.1 points per game, 1.3 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game and shooting 36% from 3 point range.^[1] Unfortunately, the inexperienced Tigers failed to return to the Final Four and finished 7th in the standings at a disappointing 4-10 win-loss record.

In UAAP Season 74, Bautista sat out for the Tigers due to academic problems which kept him from playing during the season.

However, in UAAP Season 75, Bautista returned to the Tigers after clearing up his academic deficiencies and is back in the rotation for the Tigers. The Tigers were able to advance to the UAAP Final Four as the #2 seed with a 10-4 record in the elimination round, they were able to defeat the NU Bulldogs to advance to the UAAP Finals and faced off against the Ateneo Blue Eagles but were swept in the Finals 2-0 as the Blue Eagles completed their five-peat.^[2] In the PCCL later that year, Bautista would play a key part in the Tigers run in the tournament as they entered the PCCL Final Four. The Tigers would finish with a 2-1 record in the Final Four to set up a rematch with the Blue Eagles in the Finals, where the Tigers exacted their revenge against the Eagles as they were crowned the National Champions after winning the title in a tightly contested three game series.

In his final season with the Tigers, Bautista was named the co-captain of the team with Jeric Teng named the captain. Bautista would alternate starting at the point guard position with Ed Daquioag moving him out of his natural position as a shooting guard for most of the season until the rise of Jamil Sheriff later in the season. The Tigers would eventually make their return to the UAAP Finals where they battled the De La Salle Green Archers. However, they lost the series 2-1 giving DLSU its first basketball title since 2007.^[3]

PBA D-League

In 2012, Bautista joined the Blackwater Sports through direct hire, but he was transferred in the same year to the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems of the D-League. He again suited up for another team, the EA Regen Med.

Professional career

Bautista decided to enter the 2014 PBA draft where he was picked by the Blackwater Elite, the same team he played in his first stint in the amateur ranks.

References