Wins come few and far in between for the University of the East Lady Warriors, and they often takes a few extraordinary performances.
The Lady Warriors got exactly that from their open hitters, Judith Abil and Mary Ann Mendrez, against Adamson University.
For UE to take out the Lady Falcons for their first win in the UAAP Season 81 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, it took a monumental 22 points, 20 digs and 21 excellent receptions from Abil. Meanwhile, Mendrez tallied 14 points with an injured right shoulder that she could barely move after the match.
“First set, hindi muna namin siya ginamit kasi medyo doubt siya, pero noong nakikita niya na kailangan na talaga namin siya, then ayun. Yung mga iba niyang kasama, sinupport na lang siya. Tiniis niya yung pain din,” said UE head coach Karl Dimaculangan of the fourth year winger Mendrez.
Mendrez incurred the injury in their first match against UP. Hobbled, she still felt she needed to contribute for UE to break their two-game slide.
“Nararamdaman ko noong una na hindi ako nakakatulong noong una, hindi ako makapag-perform ng hundred-percent.
“Kaya nagsabi din ako kanina, na hindi pa ako sure kung kaya kong maglaro ng hundred-percent. Pero noong nakikita ko na parang… Kahit hindi nila sabihin, kailangan nila ng tulong ko. So mahirap lang silang panoorin knowing na alam mong may maitutulong ka, pero hindi one-hundred-percent. Pero alam mo na kahit hindi ganun, sila yung pupuno noong iba na,” Mendrez shared.
For the graduating Abil, getting this win will help her fulfill her goal of shedding UE’s loser reputation.
“Sobrang nakaka-proud kasi hindi lang, yung buong kaming team yung naglaro kanina. Tapos sobrang saya lang talaga kasi first win namin this first round,” expressed Abil.
“Sobrang nakakataba ng puso. Sabi nga ni coach Karl sa amin sa training, every win namin parang reward na din namin sa sarili namin, para mas magpupursige pa kami sa next game namin.”
