Angel Habacon credits San Beda teammates after career-high 36 points

Published May 2, 2024 2:54pm

Updated May 2, 2024 5:07pm

Angel Habacon was still in disbelief when she saw the stat sheet after San Beda University’s win against Jose Rizal University on Wednesday in the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament.

The rookie Habacon made history as she tied the NCAA all-time record in scoring which Grethcel Soltones made in 2014, and became the San Beda player with the most scoring output since Janine Marciano’s 33 a decade ago.

She also exceeded Mary Rhose Dapol’s 35-point output which the reigning league Most Valuable Player posted in the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA’s loss against Lyceum of the Philippines University.

After Habacon’s panel interview on TV, she made her way to the dugout and saw teammate Reyann Cañete who was supposed to be part of the team this season, but was out due to injury.

“Thank you, Lord!” Habacon told Cañete while the two of them were jubilant on the sidelines.

“Grabe, legit ba ‘yan (Is that legitimate)?” the surprised Habacon told GMA News Online.

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) May 1, 2024

Apparently, the 21-year old outside hitter watched Dapol’s career-game just days before she made her own.

READ | Angel Habacon’s volleyball story

“Sabi ko pa, grabe si Dapol, pagka-record breaking [game] niya. Sabi ko, ‘Wow, grabe ‘yon, idol ko talaga si Dapol.’ Legit ‘yon.”

(I told myself after her record-breaking game that Dapol was amazing. ‘Wow, that was amazing. She’s my idol.’)

During the game against JRU, Habacon said was unaware of her explosive performance and thought she was having a low-scoring game.

“Akala ko ‘Ay wala, ang baba ng [scoring] ko,’ sabi ko wala akong ini-score. Ba’t wala akong atake, ganun. Bumabawi na lang ako sa receive, depensa, at pag-cheer up sa teammates ko.”

(I thought my scoring was low. I thought I was not having attacks and was just turning on reception, defense, and cheering up my teammates.)

However, as Habacon made her career-high, she also wanted to put the spotlight on her teammates as well.

“‘Wag na ‘yan (Never mind that),” she said when asked about the possibility of getting an individual award.

“Ang amin lang talaga, manalo nang manalo. Basta kami magtulungan kami.”

(For us, we just need to win, as long as we help each other.)

She also said she does not do the heavy-lifting for the Lady Red Spikers.

“I hate sa part na parang ako lang daw ‘yung umaano [gumagawa] sa San Beda which is not true. Paano ako makakapalo kung walang depensa? ‘Yun nga, parang ‘di lang ako ang nagsha-shine. Kung nagsha-shine man ako, kailangan ko i-reflect sa kanila para all of us will shine together.”

(I hate that part that is saying I am the only one doing things for San Beda which is not true. How could I spike without defense? I am not the only one shining. If I shine, I need to reflect it to them so all of us will shine together.)

Head coach Edgar Barroga, meanwhile, praised her star rookie’s performance.

“Si Angel kasi, sweet ‘yan. Bukod dun, matapang ‘yan. Huwag lang talaga mauunahan ng mga kasama niya tapos bumigay siya at lamang ang kalaban,” Barroga said. “Karespe-respeto ‘yang batang ‘yan.”

“All-out si Angel and all-in siya pagdating sa ugali, sa skills, lalo na ‘yung maging ate sa court kasi marami ring rookies sa amin.”

(Angel is sweet. Aside from it, she’s also courageous. She just need not to be overwhelmed with her teammates if they fall short and we are also short against the opponent. She is a respectable player. Angel is all-out and is also all-in in terms of attitude, skills, especially being an ate on the court because there are also other rookies.)

With just two games remaining for their team, Habacon wants the Lady Red Spikers to win all of those as they hold on to their Final Four hopes.

“One game at a time, one game at a time. Trust lang sa sarili, trust kay God, and trust sa process, trust sa system namin. ‘Yun ang importante.”

(One game at a time, one game at a time. We just need to trust ourselves, trust God, trust the process, and trust the system. That’s what’s important.)

—JKC, GMA Integrated News