Two games, two goals, and a new role to embrace — Lara Regarde could hardly have asked for a better start to her UAAP Season 89 campaign.
The De La Salle University midfielder has found the back of the net against both University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, helping the Lady Booters open their campaign unbeaten as they chase their first championship since Season 81.
But while Regarde has quickly emerged as one of La Salle’s key contributors, the second-year midfielder insists that her personal numbers take a back seat to the team’s bigger goals.
“Before, I didn’t really play the full minutes or contribute to goals. Pero now I have the chance to represent what I can do,” said Regarde.
“I really give my best, all out, like without regret. Yung talaga yung goal namin: to play also with heart and for La Salle.”
As a sophomore, Regarde knows she has to work harder — not just for herself, but for the entire team.
This season also brings a new challenge, with Joyce Landagan taking over as La Salle’s head coach after replacing school legend Alvin Ocampo during the offseason.
Rather than dwelling on her strong individual start, Regarde emphasized that she is simply doing her job while the Lady Booters continue to adjust to Landagan’s system and philosophies.
“Yung priority nung team is makapag-contribute po talaga sa full game, and then yung pinaka-priority is proactiveness and, like, one game at a time po — ‘yun ‘yung priority namin,” said Regarde.
“With our coaches po, since bago po sila sa amin, yung wino-work lang po talaga namin is to focus on what we can do for us. Kasi since bago po sila, malaking adjustment para sa amin, and yung feeling na may coaches na bago — like bagong grit, paano kami makakapag-contribute. Ngayon, nagma-matter din yung suporta ng mga coaches namin.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Regarde’s journey to becoming a key piece for La Salle began far from the UAAP spotlight in Tondo, Manila.
She started playing football at six years old, eventually catching the eye of legendary coach Hans-Peter Smit, who opened the doors for her to join his program at De La Salle Zobel.
For Regarde, however, football has never been solely about personal achievement.
Her motivation comes from something much bigger than herself.
“Yung nag-inspire po sa akin: yung family ko, si God, and yung mga supporters namin,” said the Sports Management student.
“Di ba tinitingnan ng mga tao, ‘Ay, yung football pang-lalaki lang ‘yan.’ Pero para sa akin, everyone can play. Siyempre, andun din yung passion ko to play it.”
Whether Regarde can sustain her early goalscoring form remains to be seen, but La Salle still has plenty of football ahead of it.
The Lady Booters have eight more elimination-round matches before they can turn their attention to securing a place in the newly instituted Final Four of Season 89.
Their next test comes against upstart National University on Wednesday at 2:00 PM at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. While La Salle enters the match as the favored side, Regarde knows the Lady Booters cannot afford to take NU lightly.
“Ngayon, like what I said, we really need to focus one game at a time. Siyempre, humble pa rin. Bawal namin silang tingnan nang mababa, tingnan namin sila nang may respeto,” she said.
