Entering into their 2016 V-League campaign, the middle blocker slot of the Philippine Air Force Jet Spikers was up for grabs with veteran Maika Ortiz having commitments in another league. And in PAF’s four-set win yesterday over the star-studded Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders, it was the towering presence of newcomer Dell Palomata that stood up to the challenge.
In her V-League debut, the current University of St. La Salle Interdisciplinary Studies major registered 16 points, coming from ten attacks and five services aces.
“Opo, first time ko po dito at nanibago lang po ako sa paglaro ko dito – as in medyo hindi ako sanay sa malalamig na lugar,” Palomata said when asked about her V-League debut. “Iyon nga po, kinakabahan at nahihiya ako noong una. Nahihiya talaga ako tapos hindi ko aakalain na magiging player of the game pa ako.”
Palomata revealed that she has yet to get her feet wet in playing volleyball. The Aklan-native only started to play the sport when she entered college four years ago.
“Hindi pa ako naglalaro ng volleyball noong highschool – ngayong college na lang po,” she followed.
PAF’s upstart middle admitted it is hard to fill the void left by Ortiz. With hard work and patience, she believes that she can carve her own niche with the storied squad.
“Hindi naman po iyon hadlang kasi natuto naman po ako sa training namin,” Palomata added. “Hindi naman pressured pero inayos talaga ang training namin at masaya namin kami ngayon kasi first game po namin, naipanalo naman at hindi naman po kami nawalan ng pag-asa kahit natalo kami ng isang set.”
In addition, Palomata is looking forward to meet and play against her idols Alyssa Valdez and Jaja Santiago in the ongoing tournament. She may have missed the chance to play against Valdez but her matchup against Santiago will be the one to watch out for.
“Siya [Santiago] yung gusto kong makalaban at siya yung gusto kong maipakita kung sino ang mas malakas sa amin,” she added.
Palomata and Air Force’s next slate of games will be against the Baguio Summer Spikers and the UP Lady Maroons this coming Saturday and Monday respectively at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
