She had to wait for a long time, but Kat Tolentino finally had her Ateneo-La Salle moment.
Tolentino was supposed to debut in Season 78, but a preseason ACL tear kept her out for the entire year. It had been her third ACL injury and thoughts of retiring from the sport were rampant.
But she worked her way back to shape and made the Ateneo de Manila University Season 79 lineup. The 6-foot-2 Filipino-Canadian showed flashes of her potential, but it wasn’t until the match-up against the De La Salle University that she played her best match.
The towering open hitter tallied a season-high 18 points, scoring most of her points when Ateneo needed her direly. Her length and attacking was pivotal to Ateneo’s four-set victory.
“It was a crazy experience and I’m speechless.
“I don’t know. I expected it to be a tough game and everything and it was a really good game I’m just happy that we came out strong and we really played well as a team so I couldn’t be happier with the win,” admitted the 21-year old.
The match’s enormity, instead of scaring the first-year player, brought out the best in her.
“I think these types of games bring out the best in any player and I’m just happy to have experienced it and be able to play for this game.
“I really do think that good competitors bring out your best game so that’s probably why this is one of my strongest games,” admitted the UAAP rookie.
Now in first place, Ateneo will have more big games as the season heads into the second round. Luckily, Tolentino is up for the challenge.
