FOR Angel Canino, having four La Salle aces in the 33-woman Alas Pilipinas wishlist is a testament to Ramil de Jesus’ proven-and-tested volleyball program on and off the taraflex.
In this year’s invite list, the reigning UAAP women’s volleyball MVP won’t be the lone Lady Spiker anymore as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) included her teammates Shevana Laput, Alleiah Malaluan and Amie Provido to the provisional pool.
READ: 'Wish list' of 33 players invited to Alas Pilipinas tryouts
Skills and talent are a given for those fortunate enough to be under the 12-time champion coach’s tutelage.
But Canino underscored how RDJ products like the Alas-bound La Salle quartet aren’t just top-tier players. They’ve also grown to be proven leaders.
“Sila ate Alleiah, Shevana, at Amie, bigla kasi sila naging leader inside the court so malaking step yun para sa kanila,” said Canino.
“What I'm happy about the most is pinanghawakan nila yung role at pinaninindigan nila na gusto nilamg maging leader sa loob. Yun yung isa sa pinakamalaking improvement nila sa loob ng court.”
From an individual standpoint, Canino knows she’ll possibly be up for yet another challenge in switching positions from her natural role as an outside hitter to a converted opposite spiker.
She even won best outside spiker back in Alas Pilipinas’ bronze-medal home leg run in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women last May.
“I don't know yet pa kung talagang outside hitter ba ako or opposite sa national team, but kahit anong position naman, lagi ko sinasabi kay coach Jorge (Souza de Brito) na ready ako na mag-perform sa kahit anong position ibigay sa’kin,” said Canino.
“Hindi ko naman iniisip kung gusto ko ba na itong position lang, parang inoopen ko rin yung mind ko.
“I think the national team is a big opportunity for me talaga na maging mature sa loob ng court at maging 'ako' at mag-grow lang ako lalo kung lumabas ako sa comfort zone ko.”
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