Coming out of high school in 2015, May Luna – along with Isa Molde, Justine Dorog, and Tots Carlos – was one of the most highly-touted prospects, having lit up the Palarong Pambansa.
Entering to De La Salle University, the Davaoeña was touted as the future, with veterans Cyd Demecillo and Ara Galang nearing graduation.
But while her contemporaries have etched starting roles for their respective teams, the 5-foot-8 spiker had to deal with injuries that kept her on the bench through her first three seasons as a Lady Spiker.
She had to wait until her fourth season, but Luna would not have wanted her first start to go any other way. The athletic open hitter was pivotal in La Salle’s opening weekend triumph over rivals Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, scoring 11 points in four sets.
After finally getting playing time, Luna shone brightly. And she did not mind the wait either. As with most things with La Salle’s celebrated head coach Ramil De Jesus, Luna had to earn everything.
“Always worth the wait.
“‘Yung parang yung work hard tsaka yung tiwala ni coach kasi kailangan mo siyang i-gain. Hindi ‘yung parang nalagay ka lang diyan kasi wala ng ibang players. ‘Yung nalagay ka diyan kasi deserve mo. Worth it,” an emotional Luna said firmly.
The 20-year-old reveals that De Jesus did not even tell her she was going to get the nod until a few hours before the match.
“Actually hindi niya sinabi na mag-start ako. Never siya nagsasabi na ikaw starter. One practice, bigla lang siya, ‘Okay, May dito ka’. The next training, umalis na naman ako sa starters. So, parang every drills, siyempre maano ako kasi hindi nga ako starter,” she disclosed.
“Tapos, okay, baka siguro ako pero hindi ako nage-expect kasi ‘pag nag-expect ka mas masakit naman ‘yun. So work hard ka lang. Kanina hindi ko alam, first six ba ako? Bahala na. Tapos nakita ko, hala ako nilagay ni coach. Okay, sige, let’s do this.”
For now, Luna is still adjusting to getting the first crack during matches. But she’s determined to make the most of this opportunity.
“Sabi nga ni coach, one step at a time, ‘wag mong pilitin ‘yung sarili mo, ‘wag mong i-pressure. So kung anong game mo, ilabas mo lang. Hindi na siya naghahanap kung ano ‘yung more,” the Bachelor of Arts in Sports Studies student shared.
“Gusto niya lang na kung ano ang inaasahan sa’yo ng team, ‘yun lang ang gagawin mo. ‘Wag na ‘yung kailangan magaling ka dito, kailangan magaling ka doon.”
