Amid the pressure of defending the UAAP women’s volleyball crown, especially for first-time team captain and lead setter Julia Coronel, the De La Salle Lady Spikers' focus remains on ironing out persistent lapses as the Final Four approaches.
For Coronel, who has long dreamed of being La Salle’s lead setter, this season represents her final chance at fulfilling that aspiration. Despite facing challenges like teammate Jyne Soreno's shoulder injury, Coronel remains steadfast in her commitment to keep fighting and working as a team.
“There’s still a lot to improve on pa talaga. We still have to continuously be making adjustments since may nangyari rin kay Jyne (Soreno) earlier (shoulder injury),” she said.
Acknowledging the ongoing learning process, Coronel emphasizes the importance of making every remaining game count in her last dance as a Lady Spiker.
As team captain, she strives to motivate and uplift her teammates, even in times of struggle, recognizing the significance of mental fortitude in volleyball.
“Like I said, still learning. Really still learning, we’re all still learning. We know that we still have lapses that we have to work on. That’s what we’re continuously focusing on in practice,” she said.
“Kakaunti na lang yung natitirang games namin in the elimination round, and we want to make every game count.”
A motivational leader, now more than ever
As team captain, Coronel aimed to make her words as impactful as her actions on the court. In challenging times, she prioritized being a source of encouragement for her fellow Lady Spikers, offering support whether they won or lost.
“As much as possible, I try my best to keep motivating them and try to talk to each and every one, and just uplift their spirits, even if sometimes, ‘yun nga, ako rin ay not at my best,” she said.
“But we just have each other’s backs and that’s what I appreciate so much about my team. Lalaban lang kami nang lalaban hanggang dulo.”
Laput echoes Coronel sentiment
Her teammate Shevana Laput echoes this sentiment, highlighting the importance of confidence and mental resilience in the game. As they continue to learn and grow as a team, Laput emphasizes the need to be prepared and adjusted for the challenges ahead in the semifinals and finals.
Laput added: “Like ate Julia (Coronel) said, we’re working on our lapses. But that’s not only just skills, because volleyball is really a mental game. We always need to play with confidence. That’s something that we’re still learning as a team, which is fine, obviously,” Laput said.
“This is all still experience. When we get to the semis, finals, all that, that’s when we need to be adjusted and ready for it.”
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