The UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball was a struggle for La Salle’s graduating opposite hitter Kianna Dy. This was most apparent in La Salle’s second loss of the season, a four-setter against Adamson, when Dy rode the bench for most of the match.
But the fiery UAAP Season 78 Finals Most Valuable Player was not about to let a few bad games pull her down. In their biggest match of the season, Dy mustered the best performance of her career.
The De La Salle-Zobel product tallied 21 points and powered the Lady Spikers past arch-rivals Ateneo Lady Eagles, their opponents in the last six UAAP Finals.
According to head coach Ramil De Jesus, his longtime ward gave him assurance that she will bounce back against Ateneo.
“After matalo sa Adamson, nag-message sa akin ‘yan. Sabi babawi daw siya then nagso-sorry. Ito, pinakita naman niya,” said De Jesus.
“Well, noong Adamson kasi, it was just bad, sobrang bad game. After ng game na ‘yun, hindi ako makatulog, hindi ako mapakali,” the 22-year-old recalled.
“Siyempre, tinext ko si coach, na parang, ‘Sorry coach, alam kong may inaasahan kayo sa akin, so babawi ako next game,’ sabi ko sa kanya.”
Dy emphasized that winning over their rivals is always a huge boost.
“I think, coming from a loss kasi, kailangan talaga naming mag-bounce back. And we need to get that confidence again,” the 5-foot-11 spiker shared. “Coming into this game, siyempre iniisip namin kung sino ba kami. Laging sinasabi ni coach sa amin ‘yun, parang, sino kayo? Di ba kayo ang defending champions?”
“Parang, oo nga, tayo naman ang defending champions. Coming to this game, we just remembered who we are, and kung ano ang kailangan namin para maging confident kami,” the SMART Sports Player of the Day closed.
