Veteran middle blocker Amie Provido hopes nothing catches La Salle by surprise anymore in UAAP Season 87.
For the DLSU Lady Spikers, preparation is key as they attempt to regain the crown in the upcoming UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
But it’s not just going to be preparing for their opponents game in and game out, rather, it will also be about being able to cope and recover with everything that the long volleyball season will throw at them.
After failing to defend the championship in Season 86 due to some unforeseen circumstances, including seeing star spiker Angel Canino sidelined in the second round, La Salle is wary of anything else out of the ordinary that can hinder the team's goals.
Already part of the veterans in the team, middle blocker Amie Provido said that they have formed a team that can withstand the toughest of challenges at the helm. That is, they’re steeling themselves to survive anything that happens, especially since the departure of key seniors during the offseason.
“Since last season, sobrang daming nangyari, hindi namin inexpect yung nangyari this season and yun nga, siguro yung tinrabaho namin this season is yung pagiging buo talaga ng team,” Provido told One Sports during the UAAP Media Day.
“Since rebuilding team kami, sobrang daming seniors yung nawala so, ayun [yung kailangan].”
More than a handful of La Salle stars transitioned into the pros — like PVL top picks Thea Gagate, Leila Cruz, Julia Coronel, and Maicah Larroza, which left the women’s volleyball powerhouse wanting for experience and skill.
Still, with the likes of Provido, Canino, Alleiah Malaluan, and Julyana Tolentino stand among head coach Ramil De Jesus’ holdovers, which makes La Salle still formidable.
As for filling in the void left by Gagate on the middle blocker position, Provido said that the offseason has been good in developing her skill as she hopes to make an even bigger impact in La Salle’s run at redemption.
“Sa preparation naman namin this Season 87, maganda naman yung nakikita ko kasi parang yun nga, yung nasa same page yung team na nasa iisang goal kami and nakikita ko na buo kami ngayon and gusto talaga namin lumaban and bumawi this season,” she said.