Last season, the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers made history as they annexed their first-ever NCAA women’s volleyball crown.
Facing the thrice-to-beat San Sebastian Lady Stags, Saint Benilde needed someone to step-up to ease the pressure off Jeannette Panaga and Janine Navarro. And it was Ranya Musa who became the Lady Blazers’ x-factor in the series that stretched into four games.
“Last year kasi, isa ko sa mga seniors na rin. Isa ko sa mga pinagkakatiwalaan na mag-contribute sa team,” she recalled.
“So, pagdating ng Finals, binoost ko yung confidence sa sarili para maka-contribute, para makatulong rin sa sarili ko. Siyempre, gusto ko rin marating yung narating nila [Jannine] Navarro, nila [Djanel] Cheng. Gusto ko rin na umangat rin yung laro ko … para din naman sa team.”
To further hone her game, Lady Blazers head coach Macky Cariño advised her to trust her setter. And once she did, Musa and the Lady Blazers dominated the Lady Stags.
However, with the losing key pieces to graduation, all eyes are on her and Panaga. The third-year Lady Blazer admitted she is not used to the pressure she is now feeling but is slowly able to embrace it as the season progresses.
“Sa totoo lang, pressure talaga. Kasi kailangan naming i-improve yung laro namin from last year,” she shared.
“Kasi may iniwan na legacy, may title na kami, so kailangan naming i-step up.”
Nonetheless, the central attacker is using this as motivation, knowing her role as one of the team’s leaders.
“Kailangan pong kausapin yung mga bata para mas maging maayos po yung laro namin,” she remarked about her young team.
“Kahit pressured, inaayos namin, inaayos ko yung sarili ko para gumalaw ng tama, ng maayos.”
And Musa and the Lady Blazers are looking to keep the tiara in Taft Avenue.
