By: Ohmer Bautista
Billed as the heir-apparent to Jaja Santiago’s throne, Ivy Lacsina has been a towering presence for the National University Lady Bulldogs so far in the UAAP Season 81 Women’s Volleyball tournament.
During their clash with the Adamson Lady Falcons, however, the budding star played below her average. And it was because of stinging pain in her right hand which she incurred during training.
“Sa training, pagka-slide ko po, nagkasugat po siya ng malaki,” the right-handed Lacsina shared. “After po noon, trinain ko pa din siya pero nabugbog po siya.
“After po noon, nagkapasa-pasa po siya. Tapos parang nagkaroon po siya ng boil. Ipapa-check ko pa po kung ano po talaga. Pero sa wood po siya talaga, parang burn. Parang namaga kasi nagkabugbog-bugbog po siya.”
Moreover, moments before the game, the 19-year-old confessed that the pain was excruciating enough to reduce her to tears.
“Triny po nilang linisin tapos umiyak lang po ako sa dugout.
“Wala naman na po akong magagawa, kailangan ko lang po siya ilaban,” recalled Lacsina.
Still, the towering spiker endured the pain and admitted that she was so engrossed in the game to the point that she never felt any pain nor sting. As she put it, “Noong game po, hindi ko po siya inisip pero nafe-feel ko po ‘yung pain.”
In the end, however, the numbness she felt while being in the midst of the game withered, culminating to her below-average outing of seven points which heavily hampered NU’s play.
“Kahit pinipilit ko po, sobrang sumasakit po siya,” the 6-foot-1 blocker admitted.
“Siguro po dahil na rin po sa nangyari sa’kin kasi parang inintindi po nila na meron akong ganito kaya po medyo na-down po ‘yung team.”
After the game, Lacsina admitted that the swelling and burning sensation have yet to wane.
Still, NU fans can rest assure that their prized rookie won’t be missing a game any time soon.
“Nagse-swell pa din po. Na-burn, may boil po siya. Hindi ko po siya ma-puwersa kanina…[pero] opo maglalaro po ako.”
