The De La Salle Univeristy Lady Spikers began a new era as they played their first UAAP game without Kim Fajardo. In the previous five years, Fajardo provided the Lady Spikers with magnificent setting that led to three championships.
Season 80 marks the beginning of the Michelle Cobb era. Although the Lady Spikers needed five sets to put away the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, Cobb still gets a passing grade from head coach Ramil De Jesus.
“Sa ngayon passing grade siya. Pero kasi nga marami akong nakikita na, hindi ko naman hinahabol na gawin niya ‘yung ginagawa ni Kim Fajardo pero ang sa akin kasi kung ano siya, kung ano ‘yung style niya, i-improve niya ‘yung style niya,” De Jesus remarked of the sophomore.
“Then siguro, wag ‘yung more on, siguro more on basta maitaas lang ‘yung bola. Mas maganda siguro ‘yung mas nadidiskartehan niya nang husto yung set niya. And at the same time, hinahanapan niya kung paano magkakaroon ng open block or single block yung spikers.”
The St. Scholastica product admitted that a lot had been going through her mind as she prepared for her debut.
“A lot was going on my mind especially ‘yung composure. Like coach was telling me na kapag composed ka, composed silang lahat. Pag okay ka, okay silang lahat,” the 18-year-old shared.
“So, I feel like na parang mind game din siya na kapag nag-fall yung team kailangan may compensation ng points parang yun it’s all in the mind siguro.”
Cobb is looking forward to playing more games, as she knows that that is the only way she’ll improve.
“It’s a long season and yung first game na yun sabi nila okay lang na win na yun five sets kasi marami kaming natutunan and compared pag kunwari three sets lang parang wala masyado,” the 5-foot-4 setter added.
“Lesson na rin yung five sets na yun kasi madami pa kami ma-iimprove for the future games.”
