Despite sealing the top seed with an impressive 12-0 record in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament, De La Salle University’s pursuit of the crown continues to push it to find ways to improve.
One facet of the Lady Spikers’ game that they are looking to refine is the performance of their middle blockers on the floor. While the likes of Lilay Del Castillo and Amie Provido have delivered consistent outings, there remains a lingering sense that more can be drawn from the duo.
“So ‘yun nga, malaking factor talaga sa amin na nag-co-contribute yung middle namin, kasi yung outside hitter, nandiyan na ‘yun eh — given na ‘yun,” said assistant coach Noel Orcullo after La Salle’s straight-sets win over archrival Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the FilOil Centre.
“Kailangan lang talaga makapag-contribute yung dalawang middle. Once nagiging effective yung dalawang middle, and then siguro, ‘yun yung talagang magiging formidable talaga yung team — once nagpe-perform na sila, and even yung connection ng setter din sa kanila.”
Throughout the Ramil de Jesus era at La Salle, the program has produced some of the country’s premier middle blockers, such as Aby Maraño, Mika Reyes, and Majoy Baron. With such high standards to uphold, Del Castillo and Provido are expected to keep improving — not only for themselves but also for their younger teammates.
What helps Del Castillo and Provido, however, is their strong off-court relationship. Teammates who share genuine rapport inevitably find ways to elevate each other in both training and competition, and it may only be a matter of time before everything fully clicks.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Yung connection po kasi namin ni Ate Em, I would say hindi lang siya merely parang teammate or ate siya on the court. Parang more of a… Parang ano ko talaga siya, a model as-in,” said Del Castillo.
“So parang kung ano man na-achieve ni Ate, kung ano man kayang gawin ni Ate, [sana] ma-achieve ko din at magawa ko. Parang siya yung inspiration ko tsaka model ko to be a better person. Kasi ang daming pinagdaanan ni Ate Amie, and sobrang amazing siya na person and wonderful, na parang I just wanna be like her — but I will also make my own name.”
“Pero ‘yun nga, may guidance kasi. So regarding sa connection, parang nabubuo na lang siya kasi parang… Slam mo ‘yun, parang meron na lang din kaming — hindi lang siya basta teammates lang kami. Parang Ate ko talaga siya. Gina-guide niya ako inside and outside the court.”
Even with a spotless record and the top seed already secured, it is back to the drawing board for La Salle, which still has University of the East and National University left on its schedule. The Lady Spikers have a chance to hit two birds with one stone this season: complete an eliminations sweep for the first time since Season 76 and reclaim the championship they last won in Season 85.
With the finish line drawing closer each day, the onus is on Del Castillo and her teammates not to take their foot off the gas. As they aim to finish the job, the focus is not only on sharpening their technical execution per position, but also on building the mental toughness needed to close out the season as a unified group.
“In terms of technical skills, kasi nandun naman ‘yun eh. Lagi kami nag-e-ensayo, papakahirap kami sa ensayo,” said the 5-foot-11 blocker. “So I feel like more on kailangan namin i-improve is yung emotional game namin. Like kung paano namin i-uplift sarili namin, first of all, kapag sobrang pressured na, and paano namin nau-uplift yung mga teammates na namin na nasa loob na hindi na masyado makagalaw because of pressure.
“So, ‘di lang siya more on skills; more of, I think, paano namin malalagpasan — tutulungan yung mga teammates namin na malagpasan yung bawat pressure, yung bawat hirap na game na mapagdadaanan namin as a team.”
#WATCH: PARANG MODEL KO SIYA 🏹
Lilay Del Castillo talks about her connection to her ate, Amie Provido 🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/5EXjZf17SI
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason88 pic.twitter.com/N6do7nFNFe
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 11, 2026
