Despite a slow start to her PVL career, Lucille Almonte is hoping to finally make a difference for the Nxled Chameleons in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
It may have taken some time, but Lucille Almonte is finally finding her way with the Nxled Chameleons.
Selected fifth overall by the Chameleons in the inaugural PVL Draft, there were high expectations for Almonte after her impressive run with the Adamson Lady Falcons.
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However, in her first conference with Nxled, the 24-year-old spiker saw limited minutes under then-Chinese coach Chen Gang.
But now under Italian coach Ettore Guidetti, Almonte has become a reliable sweeper for the Chameleons despite their 1-9 record.
In their Thursday outing, the former Adamson star finished with 11 points and 14 excellent receptions as Nxled came close to pulling off the upset against Choco Mucho.
“So far, happy naman kami kahit 'yun nga, hindi namin nakuha 'yung panalo. Kasi nakita namin na lahat nag-contribute,” Almonte told reporters after the match. “Happy naman ako kung ano nakikita ng coaches, kung gaano sila mag-tiwala sa akin maglaro sa loob, dapat ako todo hard work din.”
The match saw Almonte play all five sets.
While it took some time for her to get heavy minutes on the taraflex, Almonte remained patient as ever, staying ready whenever called upon by her coaches.
“Actually, kahit onti lang 'yung binibigay na playing time, lagi naman sinasabi ng coaches na mag-ready ako. Kasi anytime, pwede akong maglaro. And kung bibigyan ako ng responsibility ng coaches, grab ko and perform ng maayos,” she bared.
The PVL All-Filipino Conference has also seen the steady rise of Almonte’s former teammates in Adamson, which includes Ishie Lalongisip, Angge Alcantara, and Karen Verdeflor.
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As they all make their mark in the PVL, Almonte is proud to see how far they’ve come since their UAAP days.
“Kahit magkaka-iba na kami ng team, parang sobrang happy ako kasi nakikita ko sila na ginagawa din nila 'yung work nila, 'yung paglalaro nila, and alam mo 'yun, 'yung passion nila andun talaga. And then kahit hindi magkakasama, nandun pa rin 'yung support namin sa isa't isa.”