5 points to take from the weekend’s UAAP Women’s Volleyball Games

5 points to take from the weekend’s UAAP Women’s Volleyball Games

by rick olivares

La Salle’s Michelle Cobb is a delight to watch.

In my opinion, Cobb made the best cameo appearances last season as she played behind Kim Fajardo. She always came in with quality. And to see her start and play this well? Wow. Wait until she gets a few more meaningful games under her resume… she could be one of the best in that position by the time she is done. Talk about impact. She made those memorable cameo appearances last season and now with only two matches… you have to marvel at what she is showing.

Speaking of opportunity, how about Ateneo’s Dani Ravena?

There’s another Ravena making a name… for herself this time and Mommy Mozzy must be proud. Although Dani played setter in high school, during the off-season, Ateneo coach Anusorn Bundit liked her attitude in learning to switch to the libero position. She opened her UAAP account against NU and played very well. Her reward was to start against UST where she played even better.

Coach Kung-Fu must be wondering, what did we do wrong?

The UST Golden Tigresses were tabbed to make a serious run this season; maybe even deeper. An off-season injury to EJ Laure and middle attacker Ria Meneses opting not to play in her final season certainly put a damper into those ambitions. But with the freak injuries to Rica Rivera who will be out for the season after a knee injury in the first frame and rookie Minela Alessandrini who played the match but will be out for the remainder of the first round due to a shoulder injury.

Does that mean that is it over for UST that fell to 1-2 after their four-set loss to Ateneo?

Not at all. They still have some good players to backstop Cherry Rondina. And everyone has to step up. They shouldn’t look at their losses as misfortunes but as an opportunity for others to step up because you always want to play.

Tough tough break though for Coach Kung-Fu Reyes and his squad.

That was a huge bounce back win by Adamson

Just how exciting is this season? Five of the eight matches have gone the full route. And Coach Airess Padda’s squad has played in two of them. These game will surely build their character and determination and they bagged a huge win against another top contender in FEU.

Jema Galanza for all her health issues and having come back in this final season (she nearly left before the start of Season 79), this is her chance to shine and tow the Lady Falcons to the next stage. She played in what seems to be her best match of her UAAP career top scoring with 26 points. Although there are expectations for Chiara Permentilla, she stepped in and is also giving a very good account of herself. The more she plays the better she will get. Eli Soyud has struggled but she’ll be fine in a bit. And you have to love what Joy Dacoron is showing. Last season, she stepped into the breach vacated when Mylene Paat skipped the year. With that experience under her belt, she is playing better. Now what more when Padda’s girls begin firing on all cylinders?

Some players who have not played to their potential or what is expected.

There are different reasons for sure but right now, there’s FEU’s Jerrili Malabanan, Adamson’s Soyud, UP’s Marian Buitre, and well, UE as a whole that aren’t playing well.

Malabanan had an excellent club season with BaliPure. Yes, FEU is a loaded team and there are a lot competing for that opposite position as Malabanan. And the others are playing well. So I can understand coach George Pascua. We also said that Soyud has been checked but should break out soon. Buitre? Maybe this loss to La Salle, her linemate Jessma Ramos is playing well too. She’ll pick it up for sure.

UE? The season is young. Let’s hope that the sun doesn’t rise too quick in the east again.