FUTURE is now, without a doubt, for the La Salle Lady Spikers.
The UAAP’s winningest women’s volleyball team with 12 titles under its belt was dealt a pair of difficult ordeals following the conclusion of Season 86 earlier this year.
After missing out on a Finals spot for only the second time in 16 years, La Salle was lost a huge chunk of its roster which had graduating and pro league-bound players.
And it was the likes of now-Alas Pilipinas stars Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel, as well as PVL rookies Leila Cruz, Maicah Larroza, and Jenya Torres that bade farewell to the green-and-white.
But rather than dwell on who aren’t there, it’s all about banking on who’s up for the challenge - young as they may be - for the Taft side’s Season 87 rebuild and redemption run.
“Ang daming nawala sa’min. Almost half of the team ‘yung nawala. Rebuilding talaga kami ngayon. Sumali kami ngayon to expose our team, rebuild ‘yung connections sa isa’t-isa. Hopefully, pagdating ng UAAP, maging maganda ‘yung galawan namin,” said La Salle deputy coach Noel Orcullo in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Preseason Championship press conference Wednesday at Shakey’s Malate.
“Dahil nga sobrang rebuilding namin, napilitan kaming mag-line up ng senior high school kasi talagang sobrang konti ng players namin. Hindi mapupunan eh kaya pinilit namin na ma-lineup kahit limang high school para ma-expose na rin. Preparation na rin ‘yun for next year para du’n sa mga bata na papalit sa college.”
From their Season 86 roster, only eight players - namely Alleiah Malalaluan, Julyana Tolentino, Jyne Soreno, Angel Canino, Amie Provido, Shevana Laput, Lyka De Leon, and Katrina Del Castillo - remain.
Bound to join them in the SSL preseason tilt will be 14 rookies all of whom will be available to see action thanks to the league's 'all-to-play' rule.
READ: All UAAP, NCAA teams to vie for Shakey's Super League preseason crown
Indeed, a new era is upon the green-and-white.
Clean, green slate anew for La Salle
The Lady Spikers began offseason preparations with a trip to Taiwan wherein they played against foreign clubs, including 2022 PVL Invitational Conference runner-up KingWhale Taipei.
Such a trip, for Orcullo, aimed to expose a new-look La Salle side to international play, which he then hopes will equip his wards with a winning approach come Season 87.
“Nu’ng naglaro kami sa Taiwan, we went there to gain some more experience and to expose na rin ‘yung mga bata sa international level. At least, nakita nila ‘yung level ng playing field sa international,” said Orcullo.
“‘Yun nga ‘yung sabi namin before umuwi, na hopefully, ‘yung punta natin dito sa Taiwan, ma-gain niyo at matutunan niyo kung ano ‘yung mga nakita niyo dito na pwede nating i-apply pagdating ng Pilipinas sa UAAP."
At the forefront of Lady Spikers’ charge
Now set to take on bigger roles on the court for La Salle apart from its lone MVP and Alas star in Canino are ace spiker Shevana and incoming lead playmaker Tolentino.
The spiking and setting departments are two of the biggest voids in the Lady Spikers’ core following the above-mentioned player departures.
But Orcullo sees promise, progress, and potential in what the young duo can bring to the table.
“So far kay Shevana, since third year na, ine-expect nga namin sa kanyang mag-mature sa laro. Although may nakikita na naman kami, pero every day sa training naman, hopefully, ma-expose sa games at maka-gain ng confidence sa sarili lalo na nu’ng nagpunta kami ng Taiwan. Madala niya sana at mai-apply niya sa laro dito,” Orcullo explained.
“Kay Julyana, ganun din. ‘Yung confidence sa sarili, ‘yung consistency, ‘yun lang naman kailangan namin sa kanya eh: ‘yung maging consistent sa laro.”
And re-joining the SSL after a year’s absence is among many preseason steps La Salle has to take to be in the best shape possible even with one too many faces onboard.
“‘Yung goal naman dito, kaya ka sumali, hindi para sumali ka lang. Wala namang team na nag-goal mag-second. Ang goal mo lagi, mag-champion," the longtime Lady Spikers deputy said.
"Kung dumating ‘yun, thank you. Pero as usual, exposure, and dahil bago ‘yung team, nasa rebuilding stage kami, so kailangan talagang mag-jell pa kasi sobrang laki talaga ng nawala sa team namin.”
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