PREVIEW: ‘Underdogs’ LPU to take it one game at a time

Published April 8, 2024 7:38pm

Updated April 8, 2024 7:38pm

Key losses: Zonxi Dahab, Jewelle Maligmat
Key holdovers: Johna Dolorito, Joan Doguna, Venice Puzon, Jaja Tulang
Record: Finals (6-3 in the elimination round)

They may be finalists last season, but Lyceum of the Philippines University will still approach the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament as underdogs.

The Lady Pirates fell to back-to-back champions De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde last season after forging a run where they toppled no. 2 University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the second round of the stepladder.

“Parang same thing pa rin kami. Approach pa rin namin is underdog,” LPU coach Cromwell Garcia told GMA News Online.

“We are preparing one game at a time muna. Pinaka-goal namin is mag-champion. Pero we want muna na makapasok muna sa semifinals.”

[It’s the same thing for us, our approach is that of an underdog. We are preparing one game at a time. Our goal is to be champion, but first we want to make it to the semifinals.]

Garcia, however, admitted that there is pressure on him, but added that the university is not giving him a hard time in achieving this.

“Meron sa akin especially,” Garcia said. “Ika namin pag nandun ka na, kailangan ang next step mo mag-champion ka na.”

“Sobrang blessed naman sa school. They are not giving me a hard time pagdating sa expectations.”

[There is pressure, especially on me. Once you’re there, the next step has to be the championship. We’re so blessed with our school. They are not giving me a hard time with the expectations.]

Reigning Best Setter Venice Puzon also said she and her teammates are aware of people’s expectations, but they are not letting it get into their heads.

“Hindi po siguro maiiwasan since nakapasok kami last season sa Finals pero ngayon po kasi ang daming nabago. May nabago sa first six, sa bago, sa system, so parang alam namin yung expecations ng mga tao pero di namin pine-pressure sarili namin na makapasok sa Final Four sa championship,” said Puzon, who is one of LPU’s main players, being the team’s best server and setter.

[We can’t avoid it since we made the Finals last season but so much has changed. There’s a change to the first six, to the system, so we know about the expectations of people but we are not presuring ourselves to make it to the Final Four.]

LPU will open its campaign on Tuesday against San Beda University.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News