MANILA, Philippines — Mapapalaban ang reigning titlist De La Salle University sa UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament na hahataw sa Pebrero 17.
Nananatiling matikas ang lineup ng Lady Spikers na pamumunuan ni reigning Rookie-MVP Angel Canino kasama sina middle blocker Thea Gagate at opposite hitter Shevana Laput.
Subalit aminado si La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo na magiging matindi ang labang haharapin ng kanilang tropa para madepensahan ang titulo.
Kaya naman wala sa isip ng Lady Spikers ang salitang kumpiyansa.
“For us in our team, we keep telling ourselves that we can’t be satisfied with our championship last season. It’s already finished,” ani Orcullo.
Maraming teams ang malaki ang improvement sa kanilang mga laro.
Kabilang na rito ang Adamson University na maganda ang pre-season results.
Nariyan din ang University of Santo Tomas na malaki rin ang ipinagbago ng mga laro.
Hindi rin pahuhuli ang Season 84 champion National University na binubuo ng mga beteranong players gaya nina dating Rookie-MVP Bella Belen, opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon, playmaker Lams Lamina at outside hitter Vangie Alinsug.
“We have to prepare for double time because we are the defending champions. All the teams are going after us so it’s harder to defend a title than challenge for it, especially now that we lost so many key players,” ani Orcullo.
Nawala sa La Salle sina middle blocker Fifi Sharma, libero Justine Jazareno, playmaker Mars Alba at wing spiker Jolina Dela Cruz.
Sumailalim sa training camp sa Thailand ang Lady Spikers sa pre season para paghandaan ang title defense nito.