Last season, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers relied heavily on the individual brilliance of then team captain Ara Galang. The Season 75 MVP towed the Lady Spikers both offensively and defensively, having her name pop up all over stats sheets.
Which is why when Galang went down with an ACL injury in the Final Four, La Salle were sitting ducks in the Finals against Ateneo, surrendering the championship via sweep.
Since the start of Season 78, the La Salle have drawn a balanced effort from their lineup. Each game, seemingly, a new hero sprouts.
MaJoy Baron had her turn in the first round. Third year utility hitter Kim Dy has been brilliant since cracking the starting six.
Dy was seldom used earlier in the season, getting her first sniff of playing time in La Salle’s fifth match against the University of the East Lady Warriors. The DLS-Zobel standout then played a pivotal role in La Salle’s rousing victory over Ateneo.
Since then, Dy has been starting every match and has been the team’s leading scorer.
“It’s okay na hindi ako nagagamit, nananalo naman kami. I still do my part outside (the matches). Sabi nga ni coach (Ramil De Jesus) to just wait for my time. Hanggang sa nagamit na nga ako sa Ateneo. Nilabas ko kung ano ‘yung kaya ko – kung ano ‘yung laro ko,” Dy recalled. “Iniisip ko lang, since third year ko na, di na enough to just stay on the sides. Natuwa naman ako noong sinabi ni coach to just wait tor my time. Noong binigay niya na sa akin, siyempre ayaw ko siya ma-disappoint.”
Dy brings unrivaled length and athleticism to the opposite hitter position. Her long arms are the bane of every open hitter who dare go off her block. She has an impressive attack approach, allowing her to finish routine back sets or sophisticated combination plays. Like every Lady Spiker, her serves are also heavy and are challenging to control.
In La Salle’s dismantling of the Adamson Lady Falcons, Dy managed 14 points off 10 attacks, two blocks, and two aces. The win assured La Salle a Final Four spot.
“Hindi (ko) naman iniisip ‘yung points when I’m inside the court. Its just that you have to give what you’re supposed to – like you have to contribute. So hindi ko naman iniisip na kailangan ako ‘yung maging highest pointer. Ginagawa lang namin ‘yung role naman as player. Sabi nga ni coach, nandiyan ka na, gawin mo na lahat,” she expressed.
In her three seasons in Taft, Dy only started playing utility in off-season tournaments leading up to Season 78. She was originally a middle blocker, sometimes an open hitter.
As the name implies, a lot of skills are required to be an effective utility hitter. Unlike middle hitters, utilities aren’t usually replaced by liberos in the back row to play defense. This, Dy admits, continues to be a huge struggle but she’s getting used to it.
“Hindi talaga ako masyadong magaling (on defense). Kaya talagang nag-overload nang nag-overload hanggang sa eventually nakuha ko. Sabi nga ni coach kahit itaas ko lang. Natutuwa naman ako kasi nagagawa ko na siya,” Dy said.
With three matches remaining, La Salle has a tremendous chance at entering the Final Four not only with a twice-to-beat advantage but with the top seed. Coach De Jesus has stated in interviews that he just wants the twice-to-beat incentive and doesn’t put an emphasis on the seeding.
Dy, however, wants to finish on top of the standings.
“Iba kasi kapag ikaw ‘yung number one. Ayan ‘yung pinaghihirapan namin sa practice. Still, ang focus pa rin namin is one game at a time. Kailangan lahat ng kalaban mapaghandaan nang maayos.”
