Jade Disquitado first caught the eye of many volleyball fans in the Philippines when he led a young Santa Rosa team in the 2022 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
While many were impressed with the guts of the then-18-year-old Disquitado, some frowned upon his on-court swag and attitude.
But a year and a half later, the now-National University rookie was proud of his maturity thanks to his seniors in the Bulldogs’ camp.
“Siguro yung ugali kasi parang magkakapatid na kami dito sa NU eh,” said Disquitado on Wednesday after NU’s five-set win over FEU.
“Hindi pwede doon yung parang basta-bastang ugali.”
Although in his rookie year in the UAAP, the prized recruit has shined in a starter role thus far in Season 86.
As of last Wednesday, Disquitado leads all players in scoring with 96 points in five matches played while also being the sixth-best spiker with a 42 percent efficiency, seventh-best server with 0.22 aces per set, and eighth-best receiver with a 48.44 percent efficiency.
His best performance in the UAAP came against the erstwhile-unbeaten FEU Tamaraws, unloading 29 points on 24 attacks, four aces, and a block.
Head coach Dante Alinsunurin shared that Disquitado’s improvement in the non-scoring departments was the more commendable, while his off-the-game activities should also be noticed.
“In terms of skills talaga tumaas na yung receiving niya at floor defense niya tumataas na yung percentage niya,” said Alinsunurin, who has long-eyed Disquitado.
“Hindi lang sa loob ng court, nakita mo naman na sobrang sipag niya sa training and maganda na yung nagiging progress niya,” he continued.
“Sana magtuloy tuloy lang sa ginagawa niya para mas mag improve pa kung ano pa yung kakailanganin niya pagdating sa endgame makuha niya.”
