ALLEIAH Malaluan had to fight tooth-and-nail to be back in a position as one of La Salle’s hottest-firing weapons on offense.
With a 16-piece in the green-and-white’s first UAAP Season 87 win over Adamson, Malaluan’s well on her way back to form.
READ: Canino, La Salle correct course by blanking Nitura's Adamson
Over the last three seasons, the 22-year-old winger was often in the shadows of her ex-De La Salle Zobel cohort and former UAAP MVP Angel Canino, who emerged as the Lady Spikers’ No. 1 option in the outside hitter role.
Now in her senior year, leadership is now greatly expected from Malaluan just as much as her steady scoring contributions alongside Canino.
And so, Season 87 isn’t just about her own race to restore her sharp Season 84 rookie form anymore after all the hardships and silent battles she had to go through in her collegiate career.
As challengers to National U’s throne, she hopes to remind volleyball fans and the La Salle community that they won’t ever be dragged down to being mere pushovers.
“(I draw strength from) everything, every bad thing that happened to me the past few seasons,” Malaluan shared with SPIN.ph.
“At the same time, the hard work that I've been putting on all this time, sobrang hirap nun. Gusto kong makita yung fruit of our labor (dahil) ayoko na ‘yung tingin ng mga tao sa team namin ay parang basta-basta lang."
La Salle will fight
After all, the last four years didn’t run short of critics and naysayers — may it be aimed at her or the team altogether.
One thing’s for sure even as Taft Ave. might now be clouded by doubts more than it ever had: La Salle won’t be deterred nor rattled.
“I always tell myself to stay composed kasi I'm a senior sa loob ng court and ayokong makita ng mga bata na nag-struggle ‘yung ate nila,” Malaluan said.
“Kaya the past few months, I've been working hard. This time around, malaki ‘yung tiwala na binibigay ko sa sarili ko sa mga tao na nag-support sa’kin. I always make sure na I have this confidence para makapag-perform ako nang maayos.
"We're a champion team. We need just to play our game and prove them wrong."
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