KAT Arado has emerged as one of the best liberos in the UAAP today, but she draws no satisfaction since the impressive performances have not translated into wins for University of the East.
The third-year libero said a lot of work needs to be done, more so since her efforts have not led to wins for a Lady Warriors side that has won just once in Season 79 of the women's volleyball tournament.
“Siguro po, sobrang thankful ako na nano-notice kami at ako. Pero isa lang naman ang goal namin, ‘yung manalo,” said Arado, the Season 77 Rookie of the Year.
"Parang balewala ‘yung mga effort ng kasama mo kapag hindi kami nananalo."
At the halfway point of the season, Arado emerged as the league's top digger with an average of 6.63 per outing, beating out fellow liberos Dawn Macandili of La Salle and Ria Duremdes of Far Eastern University.
The Iligan native was also second in the league in receives in the first half of the season with an efficiency rating of 45.45 percent.
That, however, has hardly lifted her spirits.
“Para sa akin, na-notice ako pero natalo pa rin ‘yung team, so wala rin. Sad pa rin sa feeling,” she added.
But that won't stop Arado from striving to improve every single game.
“Every night before the game, nag-iisip ako, tinitignan ko ‘yung game ng makakalaban namin. Iniisip ko na mag-exect na sa akin lagi dadalhin ‘yung bola. Ako ‘yung mag-rereceive ng bola.
“Ayoko kasing pahirapan ‘yung mga teammates ko. Okay lang na ako ang mahirapan, basta hindi mahirapan ‘yung mga teammates ko. ‘Yun ang trabaho ko kasi as a libero,” said Arado.
Arado is hopeful UE can finally go all the way after losing steam in most of the games it lost.
“Kulang na lang ‘yung killer instinct na patayin ‘yung bola. Hindi lang namin matuloy-tuloy ‘yung galaw namin. Hindi namin kayang matapos ‘yung maganda sa simula. Kailangan lang namin tapusin,” said Arado.