The University of the East Lady Warriors have been at the bottom of the UAAP standings for the better part of the last decade. They may not have a wealth of talent like other schools, but they have a gem in libero Kath Arado.
The fourth-year defensive specialist was in full-form in UE’s UAAP Season 80 debut against the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons. Arado’s 31 digs and 20 excellent receptions were the main reasons why the spikers from Recto dragged the Iskolars ng Bayan to a fifth set.
Even if the Lady Warriors fell short, for a team with only two wins in the last five years, a five-set loss is a cause for optimism.
“Noong una, ang dami talagang kulang tapos nanaig talaga ‘yung errors namin. Noong third set, pumasok na ‘yung tinuturo ng sports psych namin na kailangan kalma at kung paano namin kailangan kontrolin ‘yung sarili namin pag masyado kaming nate-tense, ‘pag wala kaming energy,” said the 19-year-old Arado.
“Nagkulang na kami sa lahat noong fifth set. Nandoon na din ‘yung napagod kami. Sabi nga sa amin ni coach (Francis Vicente) sa dugout na porque nauna na ‘yung kalaban, kailangan pa namin mag-push,” added the reigning Best Digger.
“Hindi kami dapat sumuko hangga’t na-score na ‘yung last point ng laban.”
Arado, like the rest of the Lady Warriors, has had to deal with public scrutiny for most of her career. Now in her senior year, Arado wants to rip the loser tag from UE.
“Bukod sa family and sa team, ang inspiration ko talaga is mabago ‘yung tingin sa UE. Nakakagana maglaro na hindi ka lang sumusunod sa goals ng team, may individual goal ka pa. Gusto ka talaga, bago matapos sa UE, kailangan namin umangat ‘yung standard sa UE,” shared the native of Iligan City.
“Hindi puwedeng pag-graduate namin, ‘yung mga tao tingin ay UE lang kami.”
