De La Salle University Lady Spikers may be unbeaten heading into the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Finals, but they are keeping their focus grounded on lessons from the past.
After completing a 14-0 sweep of the elimination round, capped by a five-set win over National University Lady Bulldogs, La Salle secured an outright berth in the championship series and the luxury of extended preparation time.
For Lady Spikers assistant coach Noel Orcullo, however, the achievement carries a familiar reminder — one the team refuses to ignore.
“Siguro yung nightmare namin nung Season 76, talagang ayaw na namin maulit,” said Orcullo in a post-game presser. “Siguro itong nangyari ngayon na nag-waiting kami for championship, siguro talagang pagtatrabahuhan namin nang husto.”
In Season 76, the Lady Spikers also swept the eliminations but fell short in the Finals against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, a result that continues to serve as a cautionary tale for the current squad.
With nearly two weeks before the Finals series begin, Orcullo stressed that maintaining focus will be critical, especially with the risk of losing rhythm during the long layoff.
“Kumbaga, ‘yung pokus talaga hindi namin aalisin, kung ano ‘yung inumpisahan namin, kung ano ‘yung goal namin, doon kami. Hindi kami bibitaw bawat isa kung ano ‘yung goal ng coach, goal ng players doon kami,” he said. “Kung paano namin binuo ito, kung paano namin inumpisahan, ganoon din namin tatapusin.”
Rather than easing up after a dominant elimination round, La Salle intends to raise its level of preparation as it eyes a different ending this time.
“Yun din naman yung sinabi namin sa kanila, kung ito masisweep natin, kailangan din natin magtrabaho pa ng triple effort, hindi tayo puwedeng mag-relax dahil lang nasweep na natin, magpapa-easy-easy na tayo. Kung ano yung training natin na ginagawa, siguro, titriplehin natin yung effort na gagawin,” Orcullo said.
As the Lady Spikers await their Finals opponent, the message within the camp is clear: a perfect record means little without a championship — a lesson learned from Season 76 that continues to shape their approach moving forward. (AC)
The post DLSU draws lessons from Season 76 heartbreak after perfect elims run first appeared on Fastbreak.
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