THREE games into her UAAP seniors debut, University of the East super rookie Casiey Dongallo has already etched her name in the collegiate history books.
In UE’s five-set loss to Far Eastern University, Dongallo fired 30 attack points — a new UAAP rookie scoring record in the women’s volleyball tournament, besting reigning rookie-MVP Angel Canino’s 28-point benchmark last season versus Adamson.
But for Dongallo, results aside, the belief of a brighter future for the erstwhile cellar-dwelling UE side is what fuels her to rise higher this season than her record-breaking campaign to date.
“Nakaka-boost po ng confidence kasi knowing that UE is a new system and wala pa po ‘yung key player namin which is si Jelai (Gajero), dumidikit na po kami sa ibang malalakas na team compared po sa UE before,” said Dongallo.
“Nakaka-build up po ng confidence lalo na [para] sa mga ate namin before na nakikita na po ‘yung progress ng UE.”
Never without pressure
Promising as their season has been thus far, the Lady Warriors’ 1-2 (win-loss) start and her recent string of high-scoring outputs still keep the UE rookie ace on her toes.
“Hindi naman po nawawala ‘yung pressure. Every game, may pressure po, may kaba, pero I’m just thankful na andiyan coaches ko - si Doc (Obet Vital), coach Jerry (Yee), Kizzie (Madriaga).
“She’s (Kizzie) telling me na kailangan ko lang ilaro kung ano ‘yung laro ko, and once na na-enjoy ko ‘yung game, mawawala din ‘yung [kaba],” Dongallo said.
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