The Air Force Women’s Volleyball program used to stand on its three pillars from UST: Judy Caballejo, Maika Oritz, and Rhea Dimaculangan.
However, Ortiz and Dimaculangan have moved on, playing for another team in another league thus leaving Caballejo to lead the Jet Spikers in their Shakey’s V-League Open Conference campaign.
Amazingly, Air Force has thrived as they won five out of their six games and share the top spot in the SVL standings. All along, Caballejo has been a steady contributor and on-court leader.
“Bawat isa kasi sa amin ginagawa yung part. Kahit nawala yung dalawa, may pumalit,” said Caballejo when asked about her fellow Thomasians departure.
Caballejo gushed about her connection with former rival turned teammate setter Wendy Semana. Like Caballejo, Semana was also part of the last championship team for her alma mater, calling the plays for the FEU team that went all the way in Season 69.
“Madami na kasi siyang napatunayan. Yung tandem pa lang namin ni Ate Wendy sa loob ng court, alam na namin yung gagawin ng isa’t isa,” Caballejo said of the former UAAP Best Setter.
The 24 year old is fully aware of their awful PSL Grand Prix run, winning just one match in 11 games. That motivates Caballejo to get Air Force a championship in the SVL.
“Nagka-history kami sa PSL na nasa bottom kami,” the opposite hitter shared. “So kailangan namin iangat yung team namin para ma-gain ulet namin yung respect ng mga team sa Air Force.”
As of press time, Air Force sits at second place together with Bali Pure, both with just one lose on their ledger. If Air Force takes their last match on Monday against Pocari, they will secure the number one seed going into the next round of the tournament.
“Tatlo kaming naglalaban sa number one, once na matalo namin yung Pocari, aangat kami sa number one. Sabi nga rin ni coach sa amin na every game is a championship. Kahit anong laro pa yan, wag naming balewalain,” Caballejo closed.
