PROVING to be an offensive threat just as much as she was defensively in her brief stint with now-defunct F2 Logistics, Ivy Lacsina looks set to take on a similar role with the Nxled Chameleons under Japanese head coach Taka Minowa.
Lacsina, whose Nxled debut will have to wait for roughly a month more as she recovers from a right knee sprain, shared Minowa's strategic plans for her once she returns to full fitness and dons the bright green Chameleons colors for the first time.
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"Si Coach Taka (Minowa), iniisip na niya yung future. Sabi niya sa'kin, marami raw sa ibang bansa na import na middles na halos kasing height ko o mas matangkad sa'kin. Kapag sa wing kasi, konti lang 'yung tall (wing spikers) kaya sabi niya [maganda mag-shift to wing spiker] kung gusto ko mag-ibang bansa. Siyempre sino bang aayaw," said Lacsina.
"Before nangyari 'tong (knee) injury ko, okay naman na ['yung transition ko to Nxled] and nakaka-adapt na. Nangyari lang 'tong (injury) kaya ayun," she added regarding the minor setback ahead of her Nxled debut.
Lacsina did admit to still feeling discomfort in her right knee but underscores how she and her doctors are in no rush to force an immediate on-court return, with a full recovery as the top priority.
"Timeline ko po (for my Nxled debut) is March, pero depende po 'yun sa progress ko kung hanggang saan po siya kaya. Ngayon naman po, medyo mas okay na po siya kaya confident kami na kaya humabol — siguro hindi lang sa mga first few days."
The promise of a young team
In her brief stay with the Chameleons to date, Lacsina was impressed by how her younger teammates are showing no traces of immaturity to the point of exhibiting a 'veteran's mentality' ahead of what will only be the club's second conference in the Premier Volleyball League.
"Siguro dahil young team kami kaya parang mas madaling mag-jell talaga sa kanila and may guidance kasi kami nila ate Jho (Maraguinot), coach Taka. 'Di talaga nila kami pinapabayaan as a young team.
"Iisipin ng iba na ('yung Nxled), immature pa, 'di pa ganun kabeterano ganyan. Pero sa nakikita ko sa teamamtes ko, kahit bata sila, 'yung mindset nila is pang-veteran na," Lacsina said.
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