After two years of tears, the De La Salle University Lady Spikers finally figured out Ateneo’s Heartstrong machination and claimed the Season 78 championship.
A big part of their resurgence is lifetime La Sallian Kim Kianna Dy. The lanky, third-year winger began the season riding the bench, seldom getting minutes.
When the the first Ateneo-La Salle tiff rolled around, head coach Ramil De Jesus revealed his ace up his sleeve, slotting Dy in the starting six.
The Marketing Management major did not let her coach’s trust down, using her superior height and athleticism to stop Ateneo’s ace Alyssa Valdez and leading La Salle to a win.
Since then, Dy transformed into La Salle’s most potent offensive weapon. When the 14 KKD started, she topped La Salle in scoring 13 times, capping her breakout season with a 17-point outburst in the title-clinching Game Three.
“Inisip ko lang naman na I should do my part. Ito na yung last game, all-out na dapat,” Dy told the media after the match.
When it comes to her award, she gives all the credit to her teammates who, she thought, were just as pivotal to La Salle’s rise to the championship.
“It’s just a bonus award. If there were many more if this award, I think everybody deserves to be MVP,” said Dy. “Pinakita namin na we really wanted to win. Kahit nag-start kami ng may mga talo, we just went out there trying to prove ourselves and manalo every point, every set, every match.”
Dy played her last match in the UAAP against the Alyssa Valdez. The Phenom had led Ateneo to championships in the previous two seasons, to Dy’s dismay. Now that she finally won her first championship, Dy’s incredibly thankful she got the chance to play against Valdez.
“It was really an honor to play against Alyssa. Nakikita ko talaga na everytime, lalaban siya ng lalaban. Kahit pagod na pagod siya, she would just push.”
When it comes to her last two seasons, Dy does not want to guarantee more championship. Instead, Dy assures that La Salle will keep playing and training as a team.
“Bagong composition yung team, everyone will need to step up. That’s how we win, as a team.”
