National University Nazareth School had one goal in mind heading into this UAAP season: to reclaim the Girls’ Volleyball crown.
This mission was especially personal for captain Harlyn Serneche, as it was her final year — her last chance to shine as a Lady Bullpup.
In her final UAAP championship series, the 5-foot-9 wing spiker gave it her all and was named Finals MVP for her outstanding efforts.
For Serneche, however, it has always been about the team.
“Siyempre, at first, speechless po kami dahil nand’yan po ‘yung mga ate namin na grumaduate. Meron po kasi kaming pinag-usapan na ibabalik po talaga namin ‘yung korona hanggang sa maabot nang makakaya namin,” she recalled.
“Yung mga sacrifices po namin every training session, since bago nga rin po ‘yung mga kasama namin, naging motivation po namin ‘yun to mature as a person.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Lady Bullpups entered the Finals on a 10-match winning streak, including a season sweep of their opponents, the then-defending champions Adamson University Baby Falcons.
Winning Game 1 — their 11th straight — gave them the confidence to close out the series and claim the title.
“Yung confidence po namin, nasa amin na po ‘yun since nanalo nga kami ng Game 1, kaya nasabi rin namin na kayang-kaya naming tapusin ‘to. Hindi magiging madali, sabi nga ni Coach Karl (Dimaculangan), pagtrabahuhan namin. May pinolish rin ‘yong Adamson sa pag-capitalize sa mga kahinaan namin.
“Kumbaga, labanan na lang naman ng fighting spirit kung paano mo dadalhin ‘yung sarili mo at ‘yung team mo sa loob,” shared the upstart from Bataan.
Taking on the leadership role in her final season with NUNS is something Serneche will carry with her to the next level. It has helped build her character not only as a student-athlete but also as an individual.
“Nagsimula po ‘yung pagiging captain ko nung nawala ‘yung mga seniors namin. Wala ‘yun sa expectations ko, pero siguro nakatulong ‘yon sa maturity ko. Binigay sa kin ni Lord ‘to na macha-challenge ako ‘pag dating sa seniors. Wala pa ‘to; kumbaga for experience lang ‘to sa mas mabigat na dadaanan sa college,” the 17-year-old concluded.
