It’s early in the UAAP volleyball season and a lot can still happen, but the National University Lady Bulldogs might have already gotten their most important win of the elimination round.
The Lady Spikers have always had an aura of invincibility, dominating NU and the rest of the league, leading to annual Finals appearances for the better part of the new millennium. For NU to truly contend for a title, they would have to go through DLSU at one point or the other.
Beating them now gives NU the confidence they hadn’t had previously.
“Kailangan talaga pumasok sa isip at puso nang mga batang ‘to na kaya din nilang manalo sa malalaking team,” said NU head coach Roger Gorayeb who constantly pointed to their opening day loss to the defending champs, Ateneo Lady Eagles, as a huge turning point.
Gorayeb wasn’t happy with how his team had celebrated after winning the first two sets.
“After the second set, sobrang saya nila. Hindi pa tapos ‘yung laro. Makikita mong pagdating sa ganyan labanan, naive pa sila. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, hindi naman dalawang eskwelahan lang ang naglalabanan sa UAAP. Bigyan natin ng chance ‘yung sarili natin.”
“Sabi ko sa kanila, huwag niyong i-deny sa sarili niyo ‘yung pagkakataon na maipanalo ‘to. Nag-iba ba sila kumpara sa dati. Wala pa sila sa kumpyansa na gusto kong mangyari. Pero kapag na-reach na nila ‘yun, maganda ang mga pwedeng mangyari,” Gorayeb told adding that this win was built off their Final Four triumph over DLSU last season.
NU’s trio of leaders – Jorelle Singh, Myla Pablo, Jaja Santiago – towed their team, taking turns carrying their squad’s offense. Each landed 16 points apiece.
Second-year open hitter, Singh admits her confidence has skyrocketed as compared to the start of the season.
“Siguro po noong umpisa, mababa pa ‘yung confidence namin. Pero ngayon nakita namin na kaya naman pala,” Singh expressed. “Noong (natalo sa Ateneo) talagang na-down kami. Talagang nagusap-usap kami after ‘nun. Buti na lang na-overcome namin.”
National Team stalwart Santiago echoes Singh’s sentiments.
“Nakaka-boost ng morale kasi ‘yung team na dati hindi namin natalo, natalo na namin twice,” Santiago, who was recovering from a fever said. “Lagi namin sinasabi sa sarili namin na kaya namin, pero may doubt. Kanina (against La Salle) makikita mo talaga na nag-eenjoy kami tapos malaki ‘yung improvement ng teamwork kumpara noong lara namin against Ateneo.”
Santiago now believes her team can win the championship, but maintains that they cannot get too confident.
“Nandoon na talaga ‘yung kumpiyansa (na magcha-champion kami). Kaso hindi siya sobra, level lang. Masama kasi ‘yung maidudulot ng pagiging masyadong confident, dapat trabaho pa ‘rin kami.”
Graduating Queen Bulldog Myla Pablo knows La Salle will definitely want revenge come their second round meeting. She also knows the importance of keeping her team focused on every match.
“Malakas na team ‘yang La Salle kaya sigurado pagdating ng second round, babawi yan. Sa amin, hindi pwedeng sa La Salle o Ateneo lang kami nakatingin, kailangan handa kami for every team,” Pablo said.
In her five-year stay in Sampaloc, Pablo has never seen an NU team this riled up to take on all challengers.
“Iba po ‘yung team na ‘to. Siguro ang laking tulong din nang pagpasok ni coach Roger kasi iba siya mag-motivate sa amin. Sobrang dami niya nang naituro sa amin sa skills din na ngayon confident talaga ‘yung buong team sa mga sinasabi niya.”
Gorayeb does have a Midas touch when it comes to volleyball. After dominating the NCAA with his San Sebastian Lady Stags, he turned a floundering Ateneo Lady Eagles team into a perennial Finals contender.
However, the well-spoken coach has yet to win a UAAP title. Could this NU squad make history?
The Lady Bulldogs continue their march on Sunday, 2:00 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre when they take on the winless University of the East Lady Warriors.
