LAMS Lamina finally got her full run once more.
The veteran setter played her first complete match of UAAP Season 88, steering National U to an easy breezy sweep of Adamson on Sunday.
READ: With Lamina starting, National U stamps class on Adamson
It marked her third start overall and first in the second round, but unlike her earlier nods against University of the East and La Salle, this time, she stayed on the floor until the end.
Lamina delivered the kind of outing expected from a two-time best setter, finishing with 20 excellent sets and three points while spreading the offense across six teammates.
Three hit double-figures in Vange Alinsug (15), Sam Cantada (12), and Arah Panique (12).
In the Lady Bulldogs' first-round win over the Lady Falcons, it was Abe Pono running the show with 14 excellent sets and three points, with two double-digit scorers in Cantada (16) and Panique (13).
Lamina's leadership
For Lamina, though, the conversation has never been about minutes.
“For me naman, hindi ko na siya iniisip,” she answered when asked by SPIN.ph about NU's setter rotation this season.
“Ang iniisip ko lang din is gumagawa ako ng memories each day na nakakasama ko ‘yung teammates ko, mga coaches, mga managers. Tini-treasure ko talaga every moment na nakakasama ko sila sa loob ng court.”
There is also no regret staying for her final year, even as former teammates like Bella Belen have moved on to the pros after their back-to-back titles in Season 87.
“Wala talaga akong regrets as long as binibigay ko ‘yung best ko sa loob ng court o sa labas ng court. Nali-lead ko ‘yung mga bata at nakakapag-make memories kami together,” she said.
Amid the noise surrounding her limited minutes, Lamina made one thing clear.
“Let's appreciate po kung sino po ‘yung naglalaro sa loob ng court,” she said.
“Very happy lang din ako and very thankful kasi nandu’n po talaga ‘yung suporta (ng fans) po sa akin. And hindi lang po sa akin, kundi sa team.”
Even better, the battle-tested playmaker was adamant that the blue-and-gold's family-like bond remains intact - not perfect by any means, but one that continutes to find a way to lift each other up.
“Siguro, ‘yung relationship namin with each other is parang mother-father, anak. Parang ganu’n,” she said.
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