Times are good for the National University Lady Bulldogs. They’ve now won three straight matches after crushing the Adamson Lady Falcon to climb to the top spot in the standings.
The Lady Bulldogs, however, had to avert a scare, as star setter Jasmine Nabor could not finish the match due to a knee injury. According to Nabor, she has had tumor on her left knee since high school which she had never gotten treatment for. She added that it is not cancerous and only becomes painful when it is hit.
Against Adamson, Nabor played only the first two sets but had to be treated in their locker room, to the surprise of her head coach, Roger Gorayeb.
“Hindi niya talaga sinasabi sa akin. Si Jasmine kasi tahimik lang talaga yan. Kahit anong sakit o hirap na nararamdaman niyan, sige lang yan,” Gorayeb said.
“Pero siyempre sana sinabi niya sa akin before para sana napa-operahan man. Ayoko din naman na nagkakasakit mga players ko kasi pati ako nasasaktan. Pero wala naman daw problema sa tuhod niya.”
Nabor clarified that she had refrained from telling Gorayeb because she did not want to miss any matches.
“Natatakot po kasi ako [na mapagalitan] kasi baka dahil dito hindi ako palaruin. Siyempre gusto kong makatulong sa team kaya ko tinitiis na lang yung injury.
“Kaya every after training na lang ako nagpapa-therapy,” said the 18-year-old, adding that only she, her teammates, and their physical therapist were privy to her knee issue.
The 2017 V-League Collegiate Conference Final MVP has been playing tremendously, spreading their offense and providing star hitter Jaja Santiago with the best looks she’s had in her stay with NU.
“Si Jas po talaga [‘yung best setter na nakasama ko sa NU].
“Aside from sa skill niya and chemistry namin, very down-to-earth siya. Talagang nakikinig lang siya sa instructions. Kahit anong sabihin mo, gagawin niya kahit mahirap,” Santiago told Tiebreaker Times.
Nabor says she needs to become more of a leader because setters should be the most vocal on a team.
“Masaya naman po kaso minsan may hindi pa rin ako nagagawa na pinapagawa sa akin ni coach [Roger Gorayeb] tulad nang pagiging leader. As a setter, kailangan maging leader ka sa loob kahit bata o matanda ka po.
“Nahihiya po ako kasi mas senior sa akin ‘yung mga kasama ko. May times na feeling ko leader ako sa loob ng court pero nahihiya pa din ako,” the native of Tarlac claimed.
One of the most experienced players on the team, Santiago makes sure to always express her utmost confidence in her young setter.
“Sinasabi ko sa kanya na susunod kami sa kanya – kung anong naiisip niyang play, kung anong gusto niya. Kampante kami sa mga desisyon niya,” added Santiago.
With her brilliance pushing NU to a high level, Nabor is not going to let any injury stop her.
