PREVIEW: Mapua hopes sacrifices of intact, more mature squad pay off

Published April 5, 2024 6:51pm

Updated April 5, 2024 6:52pm

Key losses: Chenie Batac, Gregchelle Cabadin, Gwen Espiritu
Key holdovers: Roxie dela Cruz, Alyanna Nicole Ong, Therese Manalo, Jolina Babiera
Season record: Final Four (6-3 in the elimination round)

Mapua University will enter the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament with an intact and more experienced squad, and the Lady Cardinals are hoping their sacrifices will be worth it.

In Season 98, the Intramuros-based squad fell to finalists Lyceum of the Philippines University in the Final Four.

“Siyempre, nag-stick pa rin kami sa sistema na ini-improve namin. Last season pa, umakyat kami sa Final Four. We’re aiming sana na magka-podium finish ngayong taon,” head coach Aying Esteban said.

“‘Yung training namin, sakripisyo talaga lalo na ‘yung mga athletes namin na nasa engineering, nasa architecture courses. ‘Yung sakripisyo sana namin na ginawa para mag-prepare sa NCAA is maging fruitful naman ang paghihirap.”

(Of course, we still stick to the system that we improved. Even last season, we were up in the Final Four. We’re aiming for a podium finish this season. Our training is really a sacrifice, especially we have athletes from engineering and architecture courses. Hopefully, our sacrifices for the NCAA season will be fruitful.)

The Cardinals will parade the likes of standouts Roxie dela Cruz, Nicole Ong, Therese Manalo, and Jolina Babiera, along with Hannah de Guzman, Vanessa Basbas, Trixie Gojol, Franchesca Esteban, and Raina Vergino.

Joining them are Nadine Berces, Seanelle Garcia, Princess Manarang, Clarence Marcos, Princess Rebustes, Raissa Ricablanca, and Theresa Tambasacan.

Ong, who was among the leaders of Mapua in Season 98 with at least 102 points and third in the league in blocking, added that she wants her teammates to give their best in their games.

“We’ve been training continuously everyday so I want us na mapakita ang best of everyone,” she said. “I expect din na we’ll be matured this season because we’ve had enough preparations.”

Third year player Manalo also echoed this sentiment.

“Goal namin na higitan pa ang nareach ng team last season and hopefully mag-pay off lahat ng preparation namin.”

(Our goal is to go beyond what we have achieved last season and hopefully our preparations pay off.)

Mapua will open its campaign against San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the NCAA Season 99 on Tuesday.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News