It seems like it’s been months, but it was just during the first round of the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball tournament that the National University Lady Bulldogs were the best team in the league.
Now, the Lady Bulldogs have barely made it to the top four. Going 6-1 in the first round, NU are so far 1-5 in the second round, having picked up their first win on Sunday afternoon against the last-placed University of the East Lady Warriors.
At 7-6, the Lady Bulldogs control their Final Four fate. A win in their last match against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws assures them of the last semis berth.
But the Lady Bulldogs are just happy to have finally put their string of losses behind them.
Captain Jaja Santiago welcomed the return of their chemistry.
“Siyempre, masaya ako na unti-unti, nakikita namin na bumabalik na ‘yung teamwork ng team, and ‘yung talagang laro ng bawat isa,” thought the 22-year-old middle blocker, who scored 22 points against UE. “Though may kulang pa, pero nakita ko talaga, ang ganda ng laro namin. Kung ano ‘yung na-training namin kahapon, lumabas talaga.
“Sobrang bigat.
“Tipong kada-training, iniisip namin na, ‘Hindi, kaya natin ‘to, kaya natin ‘to.’ Pero alam mo ‘yun, parang may humihila sa’yo na, ‘Wala na, wala na ‘yang pag-asa’,” admitted Santiago, who is SMART Sports’ Player of the day. “Pero nakikita mo naman sa bawat isa na wala talagang sumusuko, kahit minsan nagkaka-iyakan na kami, na anong nangyayari, anong kulang, bakit ganon. Sobrang hirap.”
With a clear path to the Final Four, the 6-foot-5 spiker is, after a long time, ready to be a bit more optimistic.
“Sa akin, nakaka-gaan, nakaka-overwhelm na na-break namin ‘yung talo namin, yung five straight na losing streak. Tapos, basta ‘yun nga, sabi ko, pagpapatuloy namin itong laro namin na ito hanggang sa FEU.”
