IVY Lacsina’s ascent in the local volleyball scene has only just begun.
The hope for her and Akari head coach Taka Minowa is to see the 6-foot-1 San Fernando, Pampanga native carve her path to Alas Pilipinas and in overseas leagues.
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Nearly two years since first crossing paths at Nxled, Minowa saw a future national team star in Lacsina.
“She will play for the national team also in the future. I don’t have any doubt that she will step up. She has a good attitude, and I hope and believe she can make more improvements in the future,” the Japanese shot-caller said.
Lacsina was the first to admit, however, that there’s a winding road ahead before she could even come close to the player she aspires to be.
“Wala pang one percent ‘yung pangarap ko na ‘yun,” Lacsina shared with SPIN.ph.
“Si coach Taka po kasi, sobrang ganda ng kalidad niya as a coach. ‘Yung thinking niya para sa’kin na maging isang national player is wala pa po ako du’n kahit konting-konti. Kaya siguro tina-tiyaga niya ako para du’n.”
Big steps for bigger dreams
There lies a long-term rationale behind Minowa’s decision to carry out Lacsina’s spiker role from defunct F2 Logistics over her middle blocker duties at National University in the UAAP.
In the Akari coach’s view, chances for Lacsina to play overseas will be much greater by utilizing her offensive arsenal more.
And by no means has it been a smooth-sailing switch for the Chargers’ go-to scorer.
“Sobrang, sobrang hirap. Parang every game talaga, umiiyak ako,” the Akari star said. “Pero siguro, process siya para mas matuto ako at makuha ko ‘yung pangarap ko.”
But as Lacsina puts it, dreaming big is one thing and putting in the work to make it happen is another.
“Kahit sino naman po sigurong player, dream po talaga makapag-national team talaga. Si coach Taka kasi, ‘yun din ‘yung goal niya for us at hindi lang po para sa'kin.
“‘Yung binibigay niyang sistema is para rin magamit namin towards du’n sa dream niya para sa’min.”
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