BY Andrei Barrantes
AFTER losing another five-set match against equally-shorthanded Ateneo, Angelica Reyes and University of the East finished the UAAP Season 87 first round at 0-7.
READ: Blue Eagles keep very game Lady Warriors locked out of win column
The Lady Warriors experienced more than a few narrow losses, including two at the hands of Katipunan squads Ateneo and the University of the Philippines that sandwiched their Round 1.
As Reyes, one of the few veterans remaining in red-and-white, acknowledged, their team is still youthful and short of impactful players - as of right now, at the very least.
“Kulang talaga sa tao. Alam naman namin na both Ateneo and UE is same [number] lang ng lineup. Kung sino yung nasa loob, ‘yun lang ang maaasahan muna sa ngayon," she said.
"Then yung karamihan kasi ng nasa labas is rookie na, so kulang pa yung time talaga na ihanda sila ngayong season.”
Aside from personnel problems, UE also struggles with composure during extended matches, which yet again showed in their loss to the Blue Eagles.
Even after staging a late rally to come as close as 13-14 in the fifth set, Reyes and Co. fell short in finishing the job, ultimately showing a lack of confidence they most definitely have to address moving forward.
“Sa attitude kasi namin, lalo na kapag fifth set, kapag alam namin na lamang yung kalaban, sinasabi nila coach na frustrated kami. Yung lesson ko ngayong round, hindi pa tapos yan. Hangga’t wala pang 25, wala pang 15, tuloy lang,” she added.
As Recto continues to trudge through the abrupt exits of once-cornerstones Casiey Dongallo and Kizzie Madriaga, the third-year player has been left as the squad's lone libero.
While having no backup is undoubtedly tiring, however, Reyes is adamant that won't keep her from keeping the team together.
“Since ako lang din naman talaga yung libero, and as a senior din, kailangan kong maging consistent talaga kasi wala nang iba, ako lang talaga. Feel ko nagagawa ko part ko sa team, pero I know na kulang pa. Meron pa, alam kong meron pa,” she said.
As she emphasized, what she can't manage in terms of contributing in points, she makes up for in calming and collecting the Lady Warriors, saying “Sa standing namin ngayon, hindi maganda. Wala pa rin kaming panalo."
"Wala naman akong magagawa eh, hindi naman ako makakapuntos, hindi rin naman ako papalo. Sa simpleng pag cheer-up ko lang sa kanila, assurance na andito lang ako para sa kanila (ako makakatulong).”
UE a bomba just waiting to detonate?
Even with no victories to show just yet, UE remains optimistic about its chances come Round 2.
Their first order of business, however, needs to be establishing a stronger bond between their spikers and converted setter Tine Ecalla during the break.
“Yung first six na ito, bago yung setter namin, and converted talaga siya, so yung chemistry ng spiker to setter is hindi pa ganun kabuo. So every training, lagi naman namin wino-work on yun, lalo na yung setter to middle.”
“Meron naman atang one week preparation before (second round), so sa time na yun, kailangan namin i-work on yung communication din and yung hindi talaga bumibigay sa dulo,” Reyes added.
As the Lady Warriors continue to refine their chemistry, their lone libero seeks to continue playing her role as their connector on the court.
And with the adjustments they vow to resolve, it might not be impossible that these narrow losses translate to victories the next time around.
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