Milena Alessandrini is raring to reintroduce herself to the UAAP women’s volleyball field this Season 85.
University of Santo Tomas head coach Kungfu Reyes confirmed that the Season 80 Rookie of the Year will be back in action and is now fully healthy.
“Okay na. Nandiyan na siya. Kumpleto na siya,” said Reyes during the volleyball press conference held last Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Hinihintay na lang namin makuha niya yung 110 percent niya. Hopefully ma-meet namin yun bago matapos yung first round para sa second round talagang bakbakan na talaga,” he added.
The Fil-Italian spiker, after an impressive first year, was declared out for the rest of Season 81 in just the Golden Tigresses’ fourth game after suffering a left knee injury and did not play in the abruptly stopped Season 82.
But she returned to the Philippines and to UST in September of last year spiked talks that she will be back with the Golden Tigresses for Season 85 but Reyes quickly shot down those rumors, saying they still need to look at the conditioning of the player.
Now though, Reyes is glad to have Alessandrini back, a 6-foot-1 addition to his relatively small lineup.
“Malaking bagay na nandiyan siya ngayon,” said Reyes, the UST coach since 2016.
“Syempre yung defense at the net, kita niyo naman nung preseason namin hindi ganon katangkaran yung lineup pero syempre talented naman yung mga bata pero this time malaking bagay kasi mapagod man si Milena, matangkad pa rin,” the outspoken mentor continued.
“Advantage na meron kaming matangkad na pantapat sa malalaki ng kalaban namin.”
Alessandrini easily is the tallest player in the Golden Tigresses roster which will have Imee Hernandez, KC Galdones, Pia Abbu, and Janna Torres as their middle blockers.
Alessandrini and UST will open their campaign on Sunday against Season 84 silver medalist De La Salle University at 2 pm at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
