Two years ago, right before the onset of the UAAP Season 78 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, an article circulated online tagging Kyle Negrito as the Far Eastern University’s next great setter.
The story anointed Negrito as the succesor of a long line of legendary FEU playmakers like Tina Salak and Gyzelle Sy.
Safe to say, Negrito didn’t live up to the hype, and she probably never will.
But now that she’s afforded the same leg room to run FEU’s offense in Season 80, the 21-year old has found her own way to excel.
Beginning the season on the bench, Negrito watched as fellow setter Gel Cayuna struggled with her new role. Eventually, FEU head coach George Pascua called Negrito’s number.
When that happened, Negrito made sure to maximize the opportunity. The fourth-year playmaker has been consistently keeping FEU’s offense humming while minimizing the errors and miscommunications that maligned the early part of her career.
Negrito had the best game of her career, leading the Lady Tamaraws past the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons for their seventh win. Not only did Negrito toss 46 excellent sets and score nine points, she had four of her teammates score in double-digits — a mark of a mature setter.
While she acknowledges that she has big shoes to fill the past few years, Negrito is incredibly grateful to coach Pascua for allowing her to play her game.
“Siyempre, dahil ‘yun sa tulong ni coach George. Sumusunod lang ako sa game plan niya,” Negrito said of her renewed zeal. “Noong time na pinakatiwalaan niya ako, sabi ko na dapat patunayan ko na dapat ako pagkatiwalaan. Tinarabaho ko ‘yung posisyon ko. Tapos si coach George, nabibigay lang sa akin ng confidence, hinahayaan niya lang ako maglaro.
“Sobrang nalalabas ko ‘yung laro ko dahil sa kanya.”
“Alam ko namang mapagkakatiwalaan ko si Kyle,” admitted Pascua of his setter. “Nakita mo naman noong binigyan ko siya ng chance, talagang kinuha niya. Talagang tina-trabaho niya ‘yung laro niya.”
Asked about the online commentators who make fun of her signature “bukaka” form, Negrito insisted that she chooses to ignore them.
“Wala na akong control sa mga sinasabi ng tao. Basta ako, trabaho na lang. Susunod lang ako sa mga sinasabi ni coach George kasi sa kanya naman talaga ako dapat nakikinig.”
