Turn the pain into motivation.
That is the mindset Angel Canino and De La Salle University will embrace as they begin their redemption campaign in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, February 16, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After missing most of the Lady Spikers’ Season 86 title defense due to a right arm injury, Canino is determined to fuel La Salle’s quest for redemption in a highly competitive field featuring reigning champion National University, Season 86 runner-up University of Santo Tomas, and dark-horse contenders like Far Eastern University and Adamson University.
“Sobrang laking motivation sa amin ‘yon as a team, lalo na sa akin kasi marami akong games na nawala. For me talaga, ayoko na mangyari ulit ‘yon na hindi ako makapag-contribute sa team, nandoon lang ako sa gilid. Gusto ko talaga na makakatulong ako hangga’t sa makakaya ko sa team,” said the Season 85 MVP during the Season 87 Collegiate Volleyball Press Conference on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Malaking hugot ‘yon kasi ang goal as a team sa Lady Spikers and ng mga coaches is mag-champion lagi. Mabigat sa puso namin kahit nag-bronze kami, so we try na mataasan yung level na meron kami ngayon and we try na maging best version sa sarili namin for this coming Season 87,” she added.
Adding to Canino’s motivation is the desire to honor her former seniors—Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel, and Maicah Larroza—who have all moved on to professional volleyball careers in the PVL.
As she steps into her new role as La Salle’s team captain, the 21-year-old outside spiker shared the most valuable lesson she learned from her seniors: no matter what obstacles come their way, the team must trust in each other and the process.
“I think ‘yon yung pinaka-nakuha kong lesson sa kanila—na kahit ano man pinagdadaanan, walang bibitaw sa amin. Dapat mas strong pa yung bond and communication namin sa loob kahit ang dami na namin pinagdaanan. Kahit parang ang dami na hindi naniniwala sa amin, dapat bawat isa sa amin may tiwala pa rin,” Canino explained.
“Hindi ko iniisip na pressure talaga siya na para sa akin. It’s for me to help the team also para maging isang path kami and isang goal, same as the coaches. Ako, ready ako tumulong at handa ako mag-step up lagi para sa team,” she added.
Lady Spikers assistant coach Noel Orcullo echoed Canino’s sentiments, emphasizing that La Salle must return with a vengeance after settling for a bronze medal last season.
Providing key support to Canino will be returning standouts Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Jyne Soreno, along with promising newcomers Jillian Santos, Ella de Guzman, and Mikole Reyes.
“During our off-season preparations, maraming nawala, maraming bago. Since unang labas namin, nag-Davao kami. Pangalawa, nag-Taiwan, nag-compete. Pangatlo, sa Japan. Maganda yung progression namin, hopefully magtuloy-tuloy, then ma-adapt din nung mga bago yung sistema na meron si Coach Ramil,” said Orcullo, the longtime assistant coach to Ramil de Jesus.
“Hopefully maging maganda. ‘Yon din naman yung sabi namin sa mga bata—kailangan natin bumawi kasi hindi naging maganda yung resulta last year. Ito yung paghuhugutan niyo para makabalik tayo ngayong taon,” he added.
With a revitalized mindset and a hunger to reclaim the UAAP crown, Canino and the Lady Spikers are ready to prove that setbacks are merely setups for a stronger comeback.
