The spotlight fell on Kyle Negrito as she stepped into the key role vacated by the now Japan-based Jia De Guzman as Creamline's starting setter for the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Near the end of the conference, Negrito and the Cool Smashers have dominated with an impressive 13-0 record, securing the club's 10th PVL Finals appearance in six years.
In her inaugural tenure as the primary playmaker for the entire conference, Negrito excelled, ranking second overall in the setting department during the single-round preliminaries with an average of 4.88 excellent sets per set.
READ: Creamline reaches PVL Finals unbeaten after rolling past Chery Tiggo
The former FEU Lady Tamaraw attributed her newfound strength and confidence in the lead role to the tremendous patience and trust extended to her following De Guzman's departure.
"Grabe rin po kasi talaga ‘yung pasensya sa’kin ni Coach (Sherwin Meneses) and sobrang thankful din ako sa tiyaga niya rin sa’kin. Sobrang saya rin po talaga na paunti-unti, nandito na kami sa finals," Negrito said.
While acknowledging the pressure that accompanied stepping into De Guzman's shoes, Negrito stressed the importance of maintaining focus on their training and system.
"Nagsabi nga ako kanina before game na kinakabahan ako. Pero ‘yun nga, normal lang naman talaga kabahan. Every game talaga kasi, hindi mo rin masasabi dahil iba-iba pa rin talaga ‘yung nangyayari. Kami, kung ano lang ‘yung tine-training namin, ‘yung system namin, talagang ‘yun ang tatrabahuan naming,” she said.
"Sabi nga ni coach, ‘walang maliligaw.’ ‘Yun ‘yung sinasabi niya palagi kaya focus lang," said Negrito.
Negrito pledges to continue giving her best to facilitate her teammates' efforts and to make their lives easier.
"Ganu’n pa rin na ibibigay ko pa rin palagi ‘yung best na maitutulong ko sa kanila para mapadali ‘yung buhay nila. Mag-tatrabaho nang mag-tatrabaho pa at makikinig sa coaches," she added.
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