JUST in the earlygoings of her UAAP seniors’ career, Marga Altea’s journey with University of Santo Tomas has already come full circle.
After playing the first round as an open hitter, the 19-year-old Golden Tigresses rookie was converted back to her natural playing position as a middle blocker.
READ: UST clips Ateneo's wings to stay in hunt for twice-to-beat bonus
A former best middle blocker in the Season 86 girls’ volleyball tournament, Altea bared how she’d often enter games without actually knowing if she’ll be switching roles at some point.
“May times po talaga na hindi ko po talaga alam kung ano yung papasukan ko,” Altea said.
“Kaya po sa training, lahat na lang po ng drills, sumasama ako para kapag laro, 'di na po ako magulat or prepared po kung ano yung ibibigay sa’kin na role.”
Such a positional switch, one that played in Altea’s favor, was done out of necessity.
Jack of all (scoring) trades
As middle blocker Em Banagua continues to regain full strength from a foot injury earlier this season, UST head coach Kungfu Reyes wants all fronts — most especially on defense — to still be covered.
And the best ace on his deck for the job? A ‘versatile’ Altea to take charge with the black-and-gold's mainstay blockers in Pia Abbu and Bianca Plaza.
“Both sides, wing, left or right, outside, opposite, nilalaro naman ni Marga […] basta kailangan meron siyang touch sa middle. Hindi pwedeng mawala,” Reyes said.
“Puro situational na yung mga nangyayari sa adjustments at hindi naman bago sa pagiging middle [si Marga]. Mas madali na yung few adjustments para sa kanya. But still, yung pagiging wing spiker, kailangan nakakabig pa rin sa kanya kasi medyo nagkakaroon kami ng lack ng specialist sa wing spiker.
“Yung multi-tasking ni Marga, nagde-deliver naman siya sa game. Ang maganda naman sa middle namin, umaangat naman yung middle namin.”
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