With UST Golden Tigresses engaged in a back-and-forth fifth set against the CSB Blazers, they turned to a rookie to show the way.
Showing nerves of steel in the decider, Imee Hernandez nailed the differential hits that denied the Lady Blazers’ comeback. She lifted the Golden Tigresses to their second straight victory in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Collegiate Conference.
The 5-foot-9 middle blocker hammered down 16 attacks and collected three kill blocks en route to a game-high 20 points, including six in the rubber set.
Having displayed maturity beyond her years, Hernandez was deemed the Sports Vision PVL Collegiate Conference Player of the Week.
“Nagma-mature na siya. Ganito naman na siya, kailangan lang niya ang maturity, na makikita niya na nakikipag-sabayan siya sa mga matatanda o kasing-age niya,” beamed head coach Kungfu about the proud product of UST high school.
For her part, Hernandez credited the Tigresses’ mentor for easing her transition from high school volleyball to the collegiate level.
“Yung programa po na ginagawa ni Coach Kungfu, high school pa lang po ini-explain na niya sa akin kung ano po ang mangyayari pagdating sa college,” she bared.
Still, Hernandez assessed herself with a grade of 80 out of a 100 despite an impressive performance for UST, as she believes that she has plenty of room for improvement.
“Nasa eighty kasi marami pa pong dapat i-improve. Nakikita ko na rin ang sarili ko na nagma-mature na kahit papaano,” she bared.
“Dati po kasi sa high school, kapag napagsasabihan na po ako, nawawala na po ako agad. Ngayon mas nag-iimprove na po siya ngayon.”
Hernandez edged out teammate EJ Laure, San Beda’s Cesca Racraquin, Adamson’s Louie Romero, Arellano’s Necole Ebuen, FEU’s Ivana Agudo, and the Ateneo duo of Faith Nisperos and Jaja Maraguinot for the weekly award handed out by reporters from print and online covering the league.
