BY GWEN BERGADO
KEEPING a high school core intact all the way to the collegiate stage is difficult for any institution, but National University did just that for its current core and it’s paying off dearly for the proud school from Sampaloc, Manila.
After winning five championships with the Lady Bullpups in high school, Bella Belen, Erin Pangilinan, Sheena Toring, Alyssa Solomon, Lams Lamina and Chams Maaya are now dominating the collegiate wars for the Lady Bulldogs.
Shaira Jardio and Vange Alinsug are also products of that highly touted juniors squad, and that familiarity with each other makes this team so much deadlier than the rest.
“Mahirap ‘yung ganoon eh. Yung from high school to college magkakasama pa rin kami,” Belen stated after steering her team to a straight-set victory against University of the East.
READ: Perfect Lady Bulldogs make quick work of luckless Lady Warriors
“Dahil doon mas nadalian kaming magtrabaho and mas nadalian kami maglaro sa game kasi familiar talaga kami sa isa’t-isa.” she added.
“Yung chemistry namin. Kahit hindi kami magtraining ng ilang araw, andun pa rin ‘yung familiarization.”
That familiarity is also the reason why they’ve managed to keep their dominance despite them changing mentors thrice over the past four years.
Now under PVL Grand Slam coach Sherwin Meneses, they're gunning for their third title with this core.
Karl Dimaculangan and Norman Miguel won a championship apiece for the Lady Bulldogs with Meneses now looking to bring his magic in the pros to this dominant core.
“Yung mga teammates ko, sobrang kilala na namin isa’t-isa so siguro naging factor din sya, na intact pa rin kami. Kahit na ilang beses kami nagpalit ng coach,” she said.
“Isang tingin ko pa lang sa teammates ko alam ko na agad kung may problema siya o wala,” she added while stating how that familiarity also makes it easier for her to lead.
“Yung mga kapwa ko seniors, kasama ko na sila from high school, so tinutulungan nila ako,”
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