Last season’s captain of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, Pamela Lastimosa, will reportedly sit out the upcoming UAAP Season 78 Volleyball tournament after tearing her ACL in practice last month.
“Na-ACL ako last November 25. Tapos na-operahan December 5. It happened during our training. After (ko) pumalo, nagka-banggaan kami ni Dimdim (Pacres) sa tuhod. Siya kasi ‘yung nagba-block,” Lastimosa said through SMS to Dionisio. “I didn’t expect it to be ACL. Nakakalakad pa naman ako, pero after the MRI, (it showed) na complete ACL tear ‘yung result,” Lastimosa added.
Lastimosa’s unfortunate injury comes after her phenomenal run in the commercial leagues after the 77th Season of the UAAP. The outside hitter was a key cog in the Foton Tornadoes squad that finished fourth in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Cup last July. The second-generation athlete then boosted the Tigresses to a fourth-place finish in the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference last October, which included a morale-boosting win over UAAP rivals, the Ateneo Lady Eagles in the tournament semifinals.
Throughout those leagues, Lastimosa showed great versatility, toggling both attacking wing positions.
Without Lastimosa, the Tigresses and newly-appointed head coach, Kungfu Reyes, will have to lean on graduating seniors, Carmela Tunay – the team’s new team captain – and Jessey De Leon. In addition, National team standouts Ria Meneses and EJ Laure, and Lastimosa’s likely replacement in the starting rotation Chloe Cortez, will have to step up for the injured Tigress.
“I believe in the team. They’re training hard to make the Final Four. I’ll be there to support the team every game,” Lastimosa shared. UST has failed to make the Final Four for the last three seasons.
Season 78 was supposed to be Lastimosa’s last UAAP go-around, but now that she’s red-shirting the upcoming tournament, she is still eligible to play in Season 79.
