NATIONAL University stalwart Jaja Santiago was relieved to see the Lady Bulldogs regain lost confidence and halt a three-game losing slide in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs finally unleashed the form that made them a pre-tournament darkhorse, needing just 70 minutes to pull off a win over Adamson, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18, on Sunday at The Arena in San Juan.
The third year middle blocker said the players simply believed in themselves as much as their coaches believe in them.
“Tamang ginawa namin is ‘yung maniwala kami sa lahat ng tinuturo ng coaches namin at (maniwala) sa sarili namin,” she said after the Lady Bulldogs improved to 4-4 to start the second round of the eliminations on a positive note.
“‘Yung panalo namin ngayon ‘yun ‘yung magdadala sa amin ng magandang kilos or ‘yung confidence namin mataas,” said Santiago.
[See NU Lady Bulldogs end alarming slide with big win over Adamson]
“Normal naman ‘yung mag-ensayo kami ng offense and defense ganoon. Pero ang pinakahinanda namin dito ay 'yung utak at puso namin. Kasi yung tatlong pagkatalo namin noong first round sobrang na-down kami noon eh.
“Para makabawi kami nitong second round against Adamson, pinrepare naming yung utak namin na alisin namin ang lahat ng doubts sa sarili namin. Kailangan lalaban kami ng buo, solid dapat ang samahan namin,” she said.
Santiago, held to four points in the loss to University of the Philippines in a game where he was benched in the second set, bounced back with 13, anchored on 12 attacks, against the Lady Falcons.