FAR Eastern University’s outside hitter, Heather Guino-o, dedicated their come-from-behind and semifinals-clinching win over University of the Philippines to her teammates who missed the game in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference on Saturday at the Arena in San Juan City.
The Lady Tamaraws missed three key players as Celine Domingo was sidelined with swollen right knee as well as Czarina Carandang who was admitted in the hospital due to asthma-like symptoms, while Ivana Agudo was out due to the school’s participation in the ongoing Beach Volleyball Republic tournament.
Despite the undermanned roster, Guino-o and the Lady Tams managed to erase a 1-2 set deficit and frustrate the Lady Maroons, 15-25, 25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 15-7, to clinch the third semifinals berth.
“Siyempre nagalala din kami kasi kulang kami pero ‘yun nga sabi ni coach (George Pascua) na gamitin naming advantage ‘yun at maging motivation namin ‘yung naging kulang kami,” said Guino-o, who finished with 13 points on top of 12 digs and six excellent receptions. “Isipin namin na mas kailangan namin ipanalo para doon sa ibang nawala sa amin na hindi sila malungkot dahil hindi sila nakapagcontribute sa team.”
“Sobrang sarap din sa pakiramdam kasi parang napakita namin na ‘yung hirap na ginagawa namin sa training nailalabas namin siya na eto pala ‘yung magiging resulta ng paghihirap namin,” she added.
As Pascua has been saying that the Lady Tams are still looking for leaders like former star Bernadeth Pons inside the court, Guino-o is trying her best to provide the leadership that her young teammates need.
“Gusto ko din tulungan ‘yung mga teammates ko na mailabas din nila ‘yung tunay nilang laro kasi alam ko din sa kanila na hindi lang ganun ‘yung laro nila na mas may kaya pa silang ipakita,” the fourth-year spiker said. “Mas kailangan ko muna magumpisa sa sarili ko para makita nila, mamotivate sila na, ‘Ay ginagawa nila ate ‘to.’ So dapat kaya din namin.”
The Lady Tams have one more elimination match against UST Tigresses on Saturday next week in Cagayan de Oro. Guino-o is hoping that they will address their problems before heading into the semifinals.
“Kulang pa din kami sa communication and ‘yun nga kulang pa din ‘yung leadership nawawala pa rin,” she concluded.
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