Kim Kianna Dy has been one of the biggest revelations for the De La Salle Lady Spikers this season.
Since her shift to the utility spiker slot during the middle of the season, the third year Lady Spiker has given the De La Salle University a new dimension to their game.
With her long wingspan and height advantage, she can easily score attacks and anchor her team’s net defense. In addition, Dy’s breakout season couldn’t have come at a better time, as she has played a key role in La Salle’s straight sets win, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21, against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles in the Finals opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Siguro winning this game, advantage sa amin, kasi we only need one more game to win. I think everyone woke up on the right side of the bed kasi kita naman lahat gumalaw ng maayos. It was really a team effort,” said Dy, who scored a team-high 15 points off 11 attacks.
She then added that facing Ateneo always gives their opponents an extra ounce of motivation. Knowing how lethal the Lady Eagles can be, she told herself that she must go all-out to keep up with such a strong opponent.
“Iniisip ko lang na ito na ang game na kailangan na ibigay lahat,” Dy further remarked. “So hangga’t hindi umaabot ng 25 (ang score), hindi kami titigil.”
However, Dy also cautioned her team, saying they must avoid any overconfidence despite having had a solid opening game. She also emphasize that the team must work together and focus on the task at hand in order to avoid any mishaps.
“Ang Ateneo, they’re really a strong team. Pero, kailangan din namin mag-adjust siyempre,” Dy stressed. “We shouldn’t be contented with what kind of game we gave.”
Dy also revealed that La Salle’s senior players Mika Reyes, Ara Galang, Cyd Demicillo, Mika Esperanza, and Carol Cerveza, have served as her inspiration to perform better. With those five mentioned seniors playing it out in their final UAAP year, Dy is ready to give it her all for La Salle to win the championship.
“Ang seniors ko is actually my inspiration,” she added. “Kailangan matapos nila ang year nila ng maganda, so sila talaga ang inspiration ko kapag naglalaro.”
