Kyra Dimaandal is currently on a hot streak. She has been scoring in every PFF Women’s League game so far, becoming a key player distinctly responsible for De La Salle University’s unbeaten run.
In their opener against The Younghusband Football Academy, she scored a second half dagger, while during the game against classic rivals Ateneo, she accomplished a career-best, scoring four. Against the defensive wall of Hiraya FC, she cracked it at least once. Facing the defiant opposition of Far Eastern University, who almost beat them, she delivered the decisive game-tying goal.
What do you think of the league so far after four weeks and four games?
After four weeks of numerous games, I think it’s good. We’ve been building up, progressing, lalo na with the substitutes since we have lots of injured players on the team na out for how many weeks like Durs [Mary Cristine Duran] and Inna [Palacios]. We were forced to replace and change our formation. The change is good naman, so far.
The league is […] unexpected. Like the results are all surprising because one day last week, this team destroyed that team. But the next week, they got destroyed by another team. Like UST, I thought they would beat Ateneo, and then yung game ng GAU versus Hiraya, surprising 4-0. They’re very surprising, parang you can’t really base the teams and all their games, parang each week they have a different formation, they have a different play. So you really have to look at them. If you’re going against them, you have to study how they play, how each player works, because it’s really different when you’re against them because they might have changed a few stuff to adjust. You have to study talaga the players and the team.
Do you or the team sometimes watch the other games?
Dati, Coach [Smit] in UAAP, recommends and suggests to us to watch games after our games, or tells us to go earlier to watch opponents. Now, hindi niya sinasabi sa amin but I think napasok sa system namin to do that. We’re voluntarily watching our opponents because we also want to look at them play talaga not like dati na parang we don’t get the point of watching it kasi parang iba naman per game eh.
Speaking of Coach Hans, he always says after your games how much you could have scored more. Do you feel this pressure to perform?
Yeah, a bit. Actually, yeah. Generally, just yes because Coach has very high standards but it’s good at the same time kasi he pushes me, because he knows I can do better. Kaya before, I already had three knee surgeries and I think those three, all of them affected my game like my endurance, kicking, my form changed. He was my coach back in 2008 in Gothia. I think that’s where me, Sara (Castañeda), Baci Herrera from Ateneo, Tur (Erika Turtur), Kali (UP’s Navea-Huff)—I was teammates with Kali also that time, that’s where we met—and then by that time, Coach already told me about La Salle. And then, I think at that point, he saw more of me, my potential. So I think now that my performance kind of deteriorated due to my injuries, I think he tries to push me more because he knows I can do more. It’s always tough love from him, always cursing. I get worried when he doesn’t curse because that means he doesn’t care. I like it more if there was a bit of pressure from him kasi it means he just cares. Pag wala na, that’s when we all get worried na parang ‘Why, why isn’t he doing anything?’
When was the last major procedure you’ve had for your injuries?
January this year. No one knew because we tried to keep it in because that was a month before UAAP. It happened December, I got injured December. And then we waited pa if I can walk like after a week to look if I can run or recover in that time. And then we found out that it was a meniscus tear. My meniscus actually like kind of twisted, so they really had to operate on it. I got operated in January. Then three weeks recovery. Lahat pinilit in three weeks. We had endurance, strengthening. All those cramped in three weeks.
How are you doing with your recovery? Are you still feeling like there’s something bothering you?
Not anymore. It’s brand new na. No more limitations! I’m happy that I wasn’t lazy when I had rehab. Because most of the time, my PT told me that other players get lazy kasi it’s the same routine for three months and then you change na naman for like a month. And it’s always the same every day for like four hours a day you do the same thing so parang nakakapagod. And then my PT told me na, ‘Wag kang mag-give in into laziness’ because it really affects. One day affects your therapy.
The way you are right now, at what percent are you healthy?
I think with my knee 100 percent na, but fitness, strengthening, endurance, not yet. I have to work on it during Christmas break pa. That means strictly, no baboy. No baboy-ness! Actually, I don’t eat pork anymore. I stopped last year. Because since I’m also a bio major, I learned that pigs tend to have more worms and are unhealthy. Then at the same time I thought, ‘Oh, that’s good for me! Benefits my fitness and my health, so go for it.’
You mentioned before that it was because of your team that you are able to score, would you say that whoever is the designated striker—like Chelo Hodges last year in the PFF Women’s Cup and Shannon Arthur in this year’s UAAP Season 78—they would experience the same success you are now having?
It’s a very good team. I mean, the lineup this year and last year is very strong. I really trust my team, even the bench I know they’re going to perform well because they always push themselves further. I can really depend on them talaga, like there’s not a time in any game na I think, ‘Oh no, they can’t do it.’ It’s always, ‘I know they can do it’ because they always like, you can see them during training din na they push themselves, they get frustrated when they’re not able to do this and that. So it really helps, it boosts your confidence knowing that they’re also doing the best that they can. So on your part, you also have to do the best that you can because it’s unfair when others are working and then you’re just waiting or stalling for them to do the work for you. So you have to also do your best.
Can you talk about what goes through your mind when you see the ball coming to you or those crucial split second moments where you have to make the right decision?
It’s very scary at that moment. Dati when I was in high school, it was very easy. It looked very simple. Like, ‘Oh! Keeper, goal,’ then I just picked one side but now it’s different because the keepers are also very smart. They make sudden movements just to trick you or try to rush you just to cover your space. Now you also have to be smart. Most of the time, what I think is first thing that’s open, I see an opening for the goal, that’s where I shoot. The time between me and the keeper and the ball, it’s parang—I think what she’s also thinking, ‘This is what the striker would do.’ That’s the short time that I can see the opening, I go for it agad because it’s less time for the keeper to react. That’s what Tur also told me, that you have to take advantage of the time that the keeper tries to adjust to you because they don’t really have time to react once you’ve already made your decision.
How do you prepare yourself before games?
Before the game, I like to carbo-load. In the morning or the night before, depends what time the game is. I really like eating two cups of rice and chicken, then puro water. Water, water, water—because I’m really scared of getting dehydrated in the game kasi dati I had mitral valve prolapse. It’s a mild heart disease. I didn’t know how to breathe properly during a game, I would forget. I was diagnosed in Grade 3, and then I would have check-ups from time to time whenever I feel like my chest is hurting or tightening. But lately, sila Coach Alvin (Ocampo) and Coach Hans they taught me how to breathe. I think this is the point in my life where I finally learned how to breathe properly during the game.
What about mental preparation?
I pray, no injuries first of all. Ayoko na nang ganun, sawa na ako dun. No injuries of any sort. Then for my teammates to not be nervous, and then thank God for the chance that I’m able to play again. I really still think about my injuries because my first ACL, my parents decided not to let me play anymore. It was my right. Then one morning, my knee clicked and then I couldn’t move it. That’s when they decided, ‘Sige surgery nalang para maayos na talaga.’ So after the surgery, I’m like, ‘Ma, can I play again?’ Since ayos na, it’s brand new because my doctor was like, ‘Oh no, after your surgery it’s brand new!’ Then I look at my dad, and then I think he had the idea of me wanting to play again and then he said—I didn’t even say anything he just said, ‘Sige tingnan natin.’
I had two ACL’s, right was in high school, between second and third year. Then this left one was in second year college, that’s why I wasn’t able to play UAAP season 77.
You scored three goals in 6 games for La Salle in last year’s PFF Women’s Cup behind Hodges. This year you have already scored seven in just 4 games. Can you explain this difference, this improvement?
Really? I didn’t know! I have no idea, I didn’t even know I had seven goals. I’m shocked.
Are you aware that you have also been scoring every game?
Yes, yes. I’m happy with scoring every game but I didn’t know it was at that point [scoring 7 goals total] already because actually I base my mentality in the game through Messi. He’s my idol talaga. Actually, originally Ronaldinho din, then Messi. Messi said that goals are only important if they win games. So, my mindset during the game is really, ‘I have to get this goal because I need La Salle to win. I want the team to win.’ But other than that, I can’t do it for my personal glory because I don’t want also na yumabang, especially with Coach he doesn’t like players with bad attitude. So I try my best, to have a simple goal that is to win and to help my teammates.
Sa seven goals na yun, I don’t think I really did much. I really think it’s because of my teammates. From what I recall almost all my goals are just tap-ins, a sprint to the ball and then take, or a set up from someone. It’s not really something that I dribbled.
You’re pretty much reiterating that the system the team plays is responsible for this success?
They really work hard. That’s why I’m really praising them because it’s really them. I really give the credit to them. It’s just that I’m at the right place or I’m able to learn also from how they play since—late na din ako pinasok as first eleven by Coach because Shannon got injured late this year. We only knew, I think, two months ago that she’s not able to play. In that time frame, I was kind of adjusting being Kyla’s [Inquig] partner as striker because my last partner in attack was Chelo na nga. And then I had to adjust to Sara (Castañeda) also, her and Irish’s [Navaja] play.
Coach also kind of made changes to our play compared to last year. This year, we’re more on passing. Dati we were just focusing on wing plays. Now we try to do as much teamwork talaga—build-up, passing, taking the game in a different perspective, seeing ano yung mga butas. Dati it was just mostly attacking talaga on the wing. Now it’s different, we can play in the middle, we can do creative plays. We’re more free now. It’s kind of a big adjustment compared to how I played in my first and third year in La Salle.
How supportive have your teammates been with how you are doing so far?
Very, very supportive! Mikee [Atayde] actually gave me a Koko Krunch bar for the first game because she knew I loved Koko Krunch so she gave me two. It’s a new thing, it’s a Koko Krunch bar talaga with milk. I ate one before the game. Then I scored! Second game, she brought me again, I ate. And then last game, she said na naman na, ‘Ky, I’m just gonna keep on bringing you Koko Krunch bars because you always score!’
Sina Mer [Ledesma] and Inna, they’re very, parang they’re intimate kasi I think they know how much I’m sad about them leaving next year. As in whenever they bring it up, I’m like, ‘No, no, no!’ So I think they’re trying to boost my confidence, just to make me think na I can also do it without them. Because yun nga, now I’m really relying on them, I’m depending on them. I really have strong trust on the team. But now, I’m also starting to think that I can do it by myself just for confidence boosting.
Inna’s been very, very supportive of me. She’s been talking to me a lot, and telling me about the good things that I do. She gives me parang talks na parang, ‘Oh Ky, yan you can do it, I’m always proud of you, I’ve always been believing in you.’ It’s been really good, the past few months on the team.
Kind of mutual, that you are also talking her through her injury?
Yeah, we make jokes about it. Just for her not to feel bad. Inna’s the type of person who’d do anything to play. That’s why we’re making jokes out it. Kasi I know she loves playing so much. I know she loves football, and it’s such a bummer coming from someone who got injured three times! It’s really… There was a time I thought I was slipping into depression because I wasn’t doing my usual routine na having training, playing. I don’t want anyone else to feel that way, because it’s really a bummer. So we’re trying to laugh it out and we’re supporting her na, ‘Yeah, wala yan Inns! Yeah, you can do it!’ But knowing Inna, I know that she’ll do everything just to play.
You have so much respect for your teammates, what about players outside of the team? Who are players you respect in this league?
Sa league na ‘to? Actually, the first thing that came to my mind is Cam Rodriguez (Ateneo). When I see her play, it’s not tricks eh. She thinks about the game. She doesn’t think about the skills. I think she’s more on play-making talaga. I like players who focus more on the play than individual skill. That’s why I choose Messi over Ronaldo, though Ronaldo is also my idol. It’s just that Messi is a smarter player like maybe, Iniesta and Ozil. They’re also the players I look up to, because they’re very smart. So in the league, team first, because it doesn’t really work out if it’s just individual skill.
So, Cam, and then Natasha Alquiros (Hiraya FC). I’ve admired her dati pa because of her mindset. She trained with us dati before, UAAP, I think, somewhere there. She’s really an inspiration, when I see her play, I’m like, ‘the mindset I want is her mindset.’ Like—play, play, play! Kahit na masakit, you do it, you play.
For skill, I think, Cristina De Los Reyes (University of the Philippines). Yeah, she’s also a good finisher.
What about the younger players, the high schoolers? Is there anyone who has impressed you?
I see potential in Anicka Castañeda (Green Archers United FC), of course. I also see Alisha Del Campo (Green Archers United FC), Shai is a good striker. I think she also likes scoring. Anicka and Shai talaga. And who’s that sixteen-year-old again? Where is she from? Actually I don’t know her, they just say na parang, ‘Oh sixteen pa yan!’ (Lindsay Whaley of OutKast FC hails from Olongapo City.)
You mentioned Messi as your source of inspiration, how about any women’s football players?
I think, Brazil. Marta! I really like how she played because it looked so simple but yet it’s so sobrang bilis din ng paa niya.
Which team do you think can rival La Salle at this point? Which team has been the most impressive?
Basing on the results, I think it would be OutKast. They’re also unbeaten diba, I mean they only have a draw and then wins. Yeah, OutKast. We’re trying to study them nga, we’re looking at their game also. Actually, we’re looking at everyone’s game with the help of our coaches. Coach Alvin tells us who to mark, who to look at.
The team is not at 100% because of all those injuries yet here you are at the top of the league at the moment. How is the team taking it?
We’re not trying to get the wins in our heads. We try to think that every game, it’s a new game, it’s a new start. We don’t think about the past games, because they’re done na eh. You can’t get anything else but confidence and new things you’ve learned from it. Mer always says na, ‘Okay guys, new start, this is a new game, let’s get the 3 points, because that’s what’s important every game.’ So, when we win, we celebrate. Then, we prepare for the next game agad. That’s the mindset that we’re trying to get. Ayaw nga rin namin magyabang and we also want to work on our mistakes pa rin. There are always things to learn every game.
How do you compare the atmosphere here in this PFF tournament with that of the UAAP?
What’s good with the PFF league, there are more teams. More open. I have more things to learn lalo na that there are older people playing, mga alumni, sila Natasha. Also other players, past national team. So I have more stuff to learn from them. The things that happen in a game, they’re really helpful. Lalo na when it’s against older people, because that’s where experience versus youth comes in. So, us being considered as one of the young collegiate teams we kind of lack experience. We see experience through our opponents since they know how to play, they’ve been playing much longer than we have. So it’s a learning experience, also.
What are the team’s expectations for this league?
Coach told us kasi last game na, if we don’t do well in this league, okay. If we win every game, okay. What’s important is how we play, it’s not about the win or loss. Sabi niya nga, ‘Even if it’s a draw but you guys played how I want you to play, then good.’ As long as we stick to his plan. But we also trust his process since he’s been the coach of La Salle for how many years na din. Considering the results now, okay naman. We also have the help of our assistant coaches, like Coach Alvin, etc. Now what we really want to try, our main goal is to have proper play sa team. Now, bago lang din namin na-try yung swinging, blocking, just got introduced to us a few months ago. That’s where we try to adjust pa. So now we’re trying to perfect what Coach wants us to do, the plays that he wants to do.
Any national team aspirations?
I’m not really sure about the national team. If ever the opportunity of getting to play on the national team happens during the years of my college, I don’t think I’ll be committing to it because I also want to focus on my studies first. Next year, I’m going to start on my thesis na. Sunod sunod na. In my course kasi, we have classes that are tandem classes that you can’t separately take. If I miss a day, I’m missing a lot. I think I won’t be able to give the kind of commitment that other players have given to the national team. I’m also the kind of person na, hindi ako kampante sa sarili ko when it comes to studies and academics. I really need time, I need to have a mindset first. I can’t just open a book and then read. I really have to convince myself that I have to do it. So it takes time talaga for me to study. That’s why I’m a bit worried if ever it comes. I’m planning to go to med school kasi.
Maybe when an opportunity comes up, I might just take a break for a year, and then study med school dire-diretso na. Maybe just try to play, because it would be a great honor to play in the national team lalo na you’re representing your country. And to be teammates will all those players you respect.
Kyra Dimaandal and the DLSU Lady Archers will next see PFF Women’s League action on January 15 against the UST Lady Tigers at 2:00 PM
