MARIAN Buitre is determined to deliver in her final year for University of the Philippines and is pleased to see results months ahead of the UAAP.
The middle blocker-turned-opposite spiker said that she was motivated to show that the Lady Maroons are legit contenders and can win back-to-back matches, dealing the erstwhile unbeaten Adamson Lady Falcons their first loss in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference on Wednesday.
“Siguro kasi lahat ng mga talo namin, alam niyo yung expression na panalo na natalo po. Lahat ng talo namin parang ganun eh,” said Buitre, who nailed 23 kills on 48.93% success rate and had two blocks.
“Parang today we came here prepared and to show na contender pa rin kami, lalaban pa rin kami.”
The fifth-year player is eager to prove her worth as the ‘super senior’ of the youth-laden team.
“Sabi ko nga kanina, as a super senior, dapat ako yung huling huling bibitaw, ako yung huling huling mage-error para sa akin dapat sila kakapit, parang ganun?” the 21-year-old said. “May time nga sabi ko kay Maymay (Sotomil), ‘May wala ako, wala ako’ pero sa akin pa rin niya binigay. Pero ewan ko, siguro in the zone din ako eh. Nakita din ng teammate ko na in the zone ako kaya sa akin nila binibigay.”
UP Head Coach Godfrey Okumu was impressed with Buitre’s play, and he expects more in the second match of the semifinal series.
“I think the players got composed. You could see the way Buitre from there, Buitre did a very good job. She would get all the balls and every time we get a chance ball we use our opposite player,” Okumu said. “I believe Buitre would be unstoppable on Saturday.”
Buitre, a Landscape Architecture student, believes all the hard work will pay off in the end.
“Kasi thesis na eh, nahihirapan ako. Ayun nga, di ko muna kinuha yung thesis dati para makapag extend ako so sabi ko, nasimulan ko na, ano pang point ng pagdedelay ko kung di ko naman na itutuloy,” Buitre said. “Saka gusto ko, goal ko talaga bago grumaduate, madala ko man lang sa championship yung team ko.”
UP faces Adamson in the second match of the best-of-three series on Saturday.
‘“As a super senior, I need to perform what is expected of me. Being a volleyball player, pressure comes with that,” she said. “Di naman mawawala yung pressure, di naman mawawala yung ano ba, yung expectations sayo, yung mga fans na yan, maraming expectations yan, yung family mo, yung teammates mo, andun na talaga yung pressure, di naman na mawawala yun.”
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