By: Nicole Gonzales
With Den Daylisan, Harylyn Serneche, Sam Cantada, Kate Dela Peña, and Jenelyn Jacob all moving on, the mantle of leadership now rests squarely on the shoulders of Diza Berayo.
The graduating outside hitter has embraced her role as the new leader of National University Nazareth School, guiding a young and rebuilt roster eager to defend its crown in UAAP Season 88.
Daylisan and Serneche were instrumental in NU’s rise back to the top in Season 87. Meanwhile, Cantada, a late addition, powered the Lady Bullpups to championships in both the Palarong Pambansa and the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League.
Meanwhile, Dela Peña and Jacob anchored the middle.
With all five gone, Berayo has become the heart of the Lady Bullpups.
She showed that leadership during their debut last Sunday, when NUNS overcame a slow start and pulled off a gritty four-set comeback against the Kim Rubin-led UST Junior Tigresses, 22-25, 32-30, 25-22, 25-22, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.
Berayo delivered a captain’s performance with 24 points, while Akeyla Bartolabac backed her up with 17 markers.
“Pang-boost siya [yung win] ng confidence ng team namin, since ‘yung line-up namin puno siya ng mga bata,” Berayo said after the match.
“Knowing UST, na hindi rin sila magpapatalo ng basta-basta, and they really push us to our limits. Kaya nakaka-boost talaga siya ng confidence.”
Last season, NUNS swept Adamson in the finals to reclaim the high school girls’ volleyball championship.
But with so many key players now in the collegiate ranks, the Lady Bullpups entered Season 88 with big shoes to fill.
For Berayo, however, the win was a strong signal that the next wave of NUNS talents is ready to step up.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Promising ‘yung talented na mga bata. Kaya big thing din na nanalo kami, kasi dumagdag siya para sa kumpiyansa namin throughout the season,” she said.
“As a senior, masaya din ako na nag-contribute yung mga bata, lahat [sila] hindi umasa ‘yung team sa isang tao lang.”
Berayo emphasized the importance of spreading the load instead of relying on just one player, echoing the lessons instilled by the coaching staff.
“Kakasabi lang sa’min ng coaches na ‘If equally contributed yung pressure, madaling maglaro sa gitna. Hindi yung isa lang ‘yung nagbibitbit ng pressure sa laro’,” she said.
“Kaya rin kami nanalo dahil din sa team effort namin. Palagi sinasabi ng coaches namin na, ‘Yung pressure, nandyan lang naman yan sa laro, it depends on you on how you handle it.’ And ‘yon ‘yung pinaka-naging mindset namin, yung team effort namin.”
For Berayo and the other holdovers, mentoring their rookie teammates is just as important as producing points.
“So, for us seniors, parang gina-guide namin sila based on our experience din — the atmosphere sa UAAP, sa mga nangyari sa amin last season, and how we got the championship. Parang yung experience namin na yun, yung ginagamit namin, para ma-guide namin yung mga bata with their talent,” she said.
Still, Berayo knows this is just the beginning.
“Actually, parang sinasabi ng coaches, ‘Hindi pa namin best yun’. Not to brag, but we know that the team is capable of something more pa,” she said.
“May mas ilalakas pa siya, and we gained a lot sa laro na yun. Mahaba pa yung season, so we still have many things to work on.”
