Recently, several images on social media have surfaced of former University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Lady Altas player Lourdes Clemente joining the De La Salle University Lady Spikers in several team activities, including practices and team outings.
Whether or not she will play for the Lady Spikers in the UAAP is still up in the air, says head coach Ramil De Jesus.
The 11-time UAAP champion coach has had Clemente in his F2 Logistics lineup for several conferences. But the 6-foot-2 middle blocker is out of the Cargo Movers’ 2018 Chooks to Go All-Filipino Conference lineup due to a back injury.
De Jesus did confirm that Clemente has taken the La Salle entrance exam. But she still has to pass, enroll, and decide whether she wants to suit up in the UAAP.
“Sa ngayon wala pa, hindi pa rin naman. Kumuha ng exam pero hindi pa lumalabas yung result,” De Jesus said of Clemente’s status. “Wala pa, wala pang ganun. Kung seswertehin siya (makapasok sa La Salle). Kaya naman hindi siya nakaline-up ngayon (sa F2 Logistics) kasi gawa ng injury.
“Kung sa La Salle naman, inaantay lang ‘yung ganoong proseso. Kung saka-sakali na gusto niya tumuloy, edi tumuloy; kung hindi naman siya tutuloy wala namang kaso yun.”
The Lady Spikers are going for an unprecedented fourth straight title in UAAP Season 81. However, they have lost three starters – Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron – due to graduation, and are likely going to rely on several rookies and former bench players to fill the gap.
De Jesus may already add former Ateneo Lady Eagle Michelle Morente for the UAAP Season 81 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, which begins in February.
“Kino-convince ko siya kung pwede kasi graduate naman na. So ngayon sabi ko sa kanya okay lang kung mag-exam ka tapos tsaka ka na lang mag-decide,” De Jesus explained.
“Kung gusto, kung ayaw mo naman hindi kita mapipilit kasi ikaw yan eh.”
De Jesus is also relatively confident that they will not encounter any eligibility issues, citing Troy Rike’s case with National University. The Fil-American big man was declared eligible to play in the Men’s Basketball tournament, as he had already finished an undergraduate degree at Wake Forest, a non-UAAP school.
Clemente, a three-time NCAA Best Blocker, finished her Tourism degree in Perpetual.
