Ivy Lacsina stepped up despite playing a different position in F2 Logistics’ semis-clinching victory over Army-Black Mamba in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Saturday night.
Cargo Movers head coach Regine Diego opted to sit out Myla Pablo, who suffered from cramps in the team’s previous win against Choco Mucho. She then inserted middle blocker Majoy Baron to the starting lineup, while also sliding Lacsina to the open hitter role.
“Actually, this is not the first time na naging player ko siya. When I was with her in NU, we actually used her as outside hitter before, so I know na she knows how to play the position,” said Diego after the four-set win over Army.
“Pero sa ngayon syempre, kakabalik lang [niya], so she needs to remember pa more kung ano yung mga responsibilities niya,” she added.
Lacsina only played the first two sets, but still finished with nine points. And she returned to her old position for the first time after several years.
Her steady performance helped the Cargo Movers score a 25-15, 20-25, 25-20, 25-13 victory over the winless Lady Troopers at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. The win officially put them in the semifinals for the first time since joining the league in 2021.
“Okay lang din po sakin na pinagdaanan ko po ito kasi ever since naman po nung nag-start ako kahit sa UAAP ganito rin po. So parang hindi rin po ako nahirapan talaga ng buo pero syempre may hirap pa rin like sa pasa po pero alam ko na tutulungan po ako ng mga ates ko and ni coach,” Lacsina said.
“Super happy din po kasi pinagtrabahuhan po talaga ng team lalo na maraming adjustments na nangyari throughout ng process po namin and hindi po kami titigil mag-trabaho hanggang makuha namin yung goal,” the 6-foot-1 National University product added.
Diego revealed that the coaching staff has yet to decide if the change will be permanent. But the former NU-Nazareth School said that if there’s one thing for sure, it’s that Lacsina will be ready for whatever changes lies ahead.
“This could be permanent, this could be temporary we don’t know yet. Let’s see how it goes but Ivy naman is doing great na sa attacking, blocking, we just have to adjust more on the receiving side and digging side pero alam ko alam niya na yun,” said Diego.
“Konti pa, we have to train more. Meron pa naman kaming time to adjust and hopefully lahat ng mapractice namin mag-payoff sa semifinals.”
