There were times when libero Dennise Lazaro-Revilla couldn't help but feel something when the Choco Mucho Flying Titans squared off against sister team Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL.
From 2020 until the end of 2023, she and middle blocker Bea de Leon wore purple as part of Choco Mucho. Their batchmates from Ateneo de Manila University—Alyssa Valdez, Jia de Guzman, and Ella Jesus—were on the opposite side of the court, wearing pink for Creamline.
"'Pag nakakalaban nga namin sila, naiinggit nga ako. 'Huuu, magkakasama sila!'" Lazaro-Revilla recounted to One Sports in an interview. "Kasi sila batchmates ko, so I know them well."
She's now wearing a pink shirt.
Lazaro-Revilla and de Leon transferred to their sister team early this year, after Choco Mucho and Creamline faced off for the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference title.
RELATED: Heart Strong: Bea de Leon completes Lady Eagles reunion at Creamline
The conference was a sweep for Creamline, and it also turned out to be a sweet Ateneo reunion.
"I really wanted to stay with the Rebisco family," Den said. "For me, (it was) a no brainer. Either stay with Choco Mucho or Creamline."
"Nagpaalam muna ako sa management if that option was open to me," Lazaro-Revilla added. "Andito ako eh."
And the familiarity with her Ateneo batchmates helped a lot with getting along with the team.
"Iba 'yung gaan ng loob, kasi kilala na nila ako. Iba 'yung pagkakakilala nila sa 'kin. Parang I feel like they know me more than I know myself," she reflected.
"Kahit matagal na kaming hindi nag-uusap, 'pag nagkita-kita kami, parang walang nagbago. Parang ang gaan lang sa loob na wine-welcome lang nila ako."
Plus, there's also Michele Gumabao and Rosemarie Vargas, Lazaro-Revilla's teammates from Cocolife back in 2017.
"It's easy for me just to do what I have to do," the libero shared.
Something different, a new environment
Denden's reason in asking for a transfer was simple.
"I really wanted to get out of my comfort zone, which was Choco Mucho for the past three years," she said. "Really happy that they welcomed me here."
"There are times na nafi-feel ko na stagnant na ko. And it's not because of the system of coach Dante (Alinsunurin)," she made sure to emphasize, as Alinsunurin led the squad to a silver medal, their best finish in the PVL.
"I have high praise for coach Dante's system. I'm looking for something different, and a different environment from what I was used to," Lazaro-Revilla added.
In Choco Mucho, Denden delivered the same kind of tenacity she had in Ateneo when she was dubbed as the "Iron Eagle".
Things changed when Alinsunurin came.
Before the Second All-Filipino Conference, Lazaro-Revilla gushed about her fellow libero Thang Ponce and how she leveled up during the VTV Cup. Choco Mucho won bronze.
RELATED: Sisi Rondina, Denden Lazaro-Revilla, Maddie Madayag share VTV Cup lessons ahead of PVL battle
Denden's opinion though hasn't changed, as she took a backseat to Thang during the conference. Ponce won as Best Libero.
"Magaling naman si Thang. Kailangan lang talaga mabigyan ng opportunity 'yung player para mapakita kung ano 'yung meron siya," she said.
"Kasi same lang naman kami ng tine-training araw-araw. Mabigyan lang ng chance maipakita 'yung kaya niya, and 'yun naman ginawa niya."
"Maganda rin na pinagkatiwalaan din siya ng team," she added.
After being a guide to the young Choco Mucho team, Lazaro-Revilla comes to Creamline with a renewed focus on herself and her own growth.
"It's more of integrating myself. May pressure pa rin sa 'kin kasi ang hirap pumasok sa champion team na 'di mo madi-disrupt 'yung sistema nila. Gusto mo smooth 'yung transition mo," she said.
"If there does comes a time na kailangan i-level up pa, sabay-sabay namin siya gagawin."
Lazaro-Revilla said she kept checking with fellow liberos such as de Jesus and Kyla Atienza on whether she was doing things right.
"It's only my third day. Wala pa ko last week," she said, smiling. "Nangangapa pa 'ko. Sobrang gaan ng welcome sa 'kin. 'Di ako tense or second-guessing myself all the time."
Team captain Alyssa Valdez views it a little differently.
"First time ko uli nakatabi si Den sa loob ng court. When I heard her voice, parang super familiar and comfortable din kami," she told One Sports. "Even si Bea, pagpapalo."
"Nakakamiss, nakakamiss," Valdez said.
READ MORE: PVL: Bea De Leon bares heart in move to Creamline: ‘I feel like I need to grow again’
"One thing na nakakatuwa sa amin as a team, whenever kunwari nabubuhay 'yung bola, kahit sobrang hirap, talagang nagre-react kami," Valdez recounted.
"When Den came in, ilang days pa lang siya nagpa-practice. Nangyayari na 'yun. 'Yung reaction talaga namin like, woaaaaaah."
And she made sure to let Lazaro-Revilla know her dives and saves were appreciated, now that they're on the same side of the court.
"And alam mo naman din 'yung reaction ni Den na sobrang parang walang nangyari," Valdez added, smiling. "So hina-hype din namin siya."