After missing a game due to lack of sleep from defending her thesis, Sheena Toring returns to the court ready to contribute fully to the NU Lady Bulldogs in UAAP Season 86.
Noticeably missing from the NU Lady Bulldogs’ close five-set win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Saturday's UAAP Season 86 volleyball game day was Sheena Toring.
But apparently, she had good reason to miss the game.
The 5-foot-10 middle blocker said she lacked sleep after completing her thesis defense, proving yet again that it’s student first, athlete second for this Lady Bulldog.
But come NU’s match versus the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday, Toring was back to her old self, contributing three points and providing her veteran presence on the court as the Lady Bulldogs cruised to a comfortable straight-sets win.
“I'm happy kasi 'yung goal ko talaga is mag-contribute sa team since last game wala ako kasi puyat ako nun,” Toring said during the post-game press conference. “Sinabi ko kay coach na parang hindi ko kaya maglaro kasi two hours lang tulog ko.”
Toring, a BS Tourism Management student, admitted that preparing for her thesis defense had taken a toll on her, especially as an athlete.
But now that’s over, she’s more than ready to focus all of her time on helping the Lady Bulldogs get back to their championship form.
“To be honest, may part talaga na-distract ako kasi [kulang] sa tulog din eh, especially na research 'yun. Since tapos na 'yun, defended na, so kailangan mag-focus na these following games,” said Toring.
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Toring’s return also marked her first game back in the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where she suffered a left knee injury in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 85 Finals last year.
“Last year na kasi 'yun, so sa akin, wala na 'yung nangyari. Naka-move on na ako and of course 'yung injury ko na 'yun, lesson ko na 'yun [na] kailangan talaga ko-kondisyon every game,” said Toring.
With the thesis defended, Toring will look to help the Lady Bulldogs grab their third-straight win in Season 86 as they face the still-winless UP Fighting Maroons on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena at 2:00 p.m.
It will be aired on One Sports, the UAAP Varsity Channel, and the Pilipinas Live app.