When University of Santo Tomas dropped its UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball opener against De La Salle University last Sunday, head coach Kungfu Reyes still commended his rookies’ performances.
Among the noted players were Regina Jurado, Renren Peñafiel, and Pierre Abellana while Reyes said new setter Cassie Carballo had a shaky debut.
“Si Cassie though medyo nag-aalangan sa galaw so hopefully makarecover naman,” Reyes said last Sunday.
And on Wednesday, recover Carballo did in a starting role during the Golden Tigresses 25-16, 28-26, 25-21 win over Far Eastern University.
The playmaker out of Silay, Negros Occidental distributed the ball well leading to three double-digit scorers for UST in the one-hour and 30-minute affair.
“Luckily nagdedeliver itong rookie namin na si Cassie. Very promising yung bata eh,” said Reyes on Carballo.
“Ang maganda dito sa distribution ng atake maganda kasi nag tatlo yung double digit namin malaking bagay ibig sabihin hindi lang si Eya yung pinupuntahan ngayon,” said Reyes.
Eya Laure delivered 17 points while Jonna Perdido and Peñafiel added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Middle blocker Imee Hernandez almost reached double figures as well with nine.
The 5-foot-5 setter admitted that during her debut, nerves affected her.
But to the rescue were her seniors in the team who lifted her spirit right away. And it was smooth sailing after that.
“Nung una po medyo may pressure pero nireremind lang ako ng Ates lagi na mag mindset ako kung anong gagawin ko sa game,” shared Carballo.
“In terms of scoring department po, maaasahan naman lahat eh kaya hindi ako masyado nahihirapan kasi kahit kanino ko ibigay, alam kong kaya nilang pumuntos,” she added.
Carballo was a product of De La Salle-Zobel where she learned from former coach Tina Salak, who was a legendary setter and now the mentor of FEU.
And with her playmaking intelligence against the Lady Tamaraws, she earned praise from team captain Laure.
“Masaya kasi nakikita ko na parang willing talaga siya sa training pa lang willing siya magabsorb ng instructions nila coaches and of course, ready din siya magadopt ng sistema kung anong merong sistema kami sa UST since high school,” said Laure.
“Maganda ay open siya, ready sa additional knowledge. Kung anong meron siya nung high school dinadagdagan lang namin,” added Reyes.
