Not even three separate ACL tears could bring Kat Tolentino down.
After an unfortunate injury that sidelined her for UAAP Season 78, Tolentino finally donned the Lady Eagles’ jersey in an impressive straight-set triumph over the UST Tigresses.
Tolentino was a major presence on the court. At 6-foot-2 and playing open hiter, the Fil-Candian towered over her opponents and pitched in eight points in a balanced Ateneo effort.
Admittedly, Tolentino had thought about not returning to volleyball after her third ACL tear. Thanks to encouragement from family and teammates, Tolentino persevered through rehab.
When she stepped out on the court and heard her name announced in the starting six call-up, Tolentino could not believe she was finally in the UAAP.
“I don’t have words right now. It’s just surreal right now. The team was super supportive and it made it so much better than I could have ever imagined. The nerves, of course, were there but everyone was just always trying to help calm me down, and I think I couldn’t have asked for a better first game,” Tolentino told Tiebreaker Times. 
“I’m thankful to be able to get through that first game, being healthy and of course not getting hurt.”
“I’m kind of in shock still. I think they’ve [Ateneo community] been very supportive, and that’s been a motivating factor for me and for sure it’s all positive for me. Coming into the UAAP, it’s all positive reviews, so it’s definitely encouraging to come into the season with that mentality and with that perception of me,” she furthered.
“But at the same time, it’s still somewhat pressuring, because I have an expectation to fulfill, and I think whether or not I fulfill that for whoever is expecting me, however I play, I’m just happy that I finished the game.”
Tolentino thought she still had a long way to go to get to peak shape. It’s all about being more aggressive for Ateneo’s new weapon.
“Next time I’ll be more aggressive with the hits, and something that I always want to work on is my defense, just because I know that’s one of my weaknesses, but I know that as the games go on that I’ll get more comfortable and hopefully become a little bit quicker,” she vowed.
The Lady Eagles next play on Wednesday against the National University Lady Bulldogs.
With Tolentino in tow, the Lady Eagles not only have a solid player for the present but also a high-potential piece for the future.
