Guino-o rose to the occasion even if it was no-bearing game for the Far Eastern University, giving the Lady Tamaraws a huge morale booster heading into the Final Four.
Already locked as the fourth seed, Guino-o unleashed a career-high 24 points to help FEU stun defending champions DLSU Lady Spikers with a come-from-behind victory, 25-22, 13-25, 15-25, 27-25, 15-8, on Sunday, to end its elimination round on a high note at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
As she saved the best for last this elimination round, the graduating wing spiker earned the final Chooks to Go-Collegiate Press Corps Player of the Week in UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.
“Para sa amin, hindi siya no-bearing,” Guino-o said.
“Malaking tulong nitong game na ito kapag nanalo kami para sa mga next po naming games. Kasi makaka-boost po ito ng morale namin.”
After ending an eight-game skid to La Salle, Guino-o bested candidates Chiara Permentilla of Adamson, Sisi Rondina of UST, Kat Tolentino of Ateneo, and Jolina Dela Cruz of De La Salle for the weekly nod given by beat writers from the broadsheets, tabloids and sports websites.
“Sobrang importante tsaka sobrang halaga kasi ayun nga, sobrang eager kami na makuha ‘to kasi ang tagal na namin silang hindi natatalo. Tsaka it’s time naman na ipakita namin na kaya din namin silang matalo,” she added.
The spiker, who hails from Cavite, emerged as FEU’s top scorer — no. 7 in the league — as she averaged 12.8 points per game in the elimination round.
Playing her best in her final playing year, Guino-o just wants to do everything she can to win games for FEU and be a great example to her teammates.
“Hindi ko naman naiisip ‘yung points talaga. Ang naiisip ko kung ano ‘yung makakapagpanalo sa team, kung ano ‘yung makakapagpa-boost sa mga teammates ko ng kumpiyansa nila,” Guino-o said.
“Kailangan ko muna isipin na kailangan mag-start sa sarili ko, para makita nila na kailangan din nila na tulungan ako, na ipakita kung ano ‘yung kaya nila.”
But a bigger challenge is now ahead of FEU, as they will take on the league-leading Ateneo in the Final Four for the third straight year.
Even the tables have turned, with the Lady Eagles holding a twice-to-beat incentive. Still, the graduating Lady Tamaraw believes that it just makes them more eager to win so they can reach their goal of returning to the Finals.
“Sobrang eager kami matalo yung Ateneo, lalo na po may twice-to-beat advantage sila. Kailangan talaga namin manalo para makuha namin yung pinaka-main goal namin.”
