THERE'S more to the game of volleyball than just the hard-hitting stars and their power spikes on the taraflex.
For a hard-hitter like the reigning UAAP women's volleyball MVP herself in La Salle's Angel Canino, loaded attacks alone are no longer sufficient in achieving victory.
Today, volleyball demands a multifaceted approach, emphasizing the strategic aspect of the game as much as it celebrates physical strength and technical skill.
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"Tumataas yung level of competition dito sa UAAP and tumataas na rin po yung skills ng bawat team. Siguro yung kailangan pa naming i-input sa game namin, maging wise kami dapat at matalino kami dapat sa bawat galaw namin sa loob ng court," said Canino.
"Hindi na ngayon paluan at palakasan [lang]. Dapat wise ka inside."
Canino told SPIN.ph that her trademark power hits are meticulously crafted upon the pillars of precise timing in setting and strategic placement of the ball. This reaffirms her assertion that maintaining a consistently high level of on-court intelligence can significantly enhance performance across all aspects of the game.
"My secret to a perfect spike? Siguro set, [magandang] set from our setter kasi hindi ko naman magagawa ‘yung perfect spike na ‘yun kung hindi perfect ‘yung set sa’kin.
Canino added: "I think na-develop ko ‘yung [malakas na palo], well it’s everyday training kasi na kailangan mong i-develop ‘yung spiking mo. It’s not about the power kasi, it’s also the placement sa bola. Kailangan mo ‘yun matutunan kasi kapag pumapalo ka, hindi naman kailangan power, kailangan may utak din."
A game of heart
With La Salle set to resume its UAAP title defense against cellar-dwelling University of the Philippines, Canino also underlined how volleyball -- as much as it is a mind game -- is also a game of respect ultimately won by playing with the biggest heart.
"Sabi nga po ni Coach (Ramil de Jesus), respeto pa rin sa kalaban. Kailangan pa talaga naming pag-aralan sila kahit na long break, kailangan naming patuloy na mag-improve at mag-improve. Kailangan mabasa (namni) sila kasi hindi naman basta-basta si UP dahil matiyaga sila sa depensa. Kailangan hindi lang puro power, 'di lang maglaro, kailangan din silang basahin, kailangan ding mautak inside," said Canino.
"Kailangan namin lumaban at ipakita kung ano meron kami. Puso, ilabas 'yung puso."
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