Among the youngest to play for the national team, incoming NU sophomore Arah Panique has more in store for the Lady Bulldogs UAAP Season 87.
Arah Panique now has more experience under her belt as she heads into her second year with defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs for UAAP Season 87, set to start this weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Having a UAAP championship under her belt is one thing, but experiencing top-level competition with the national team as she lent her skills to Alas Pillipinas in a pivotal campaign last year, highlighted by bronze medal finishes in the AVC Challenge Cup in Manila, and the SEA V.League.
Still flanked with superstars in the team like MVP Bella Belen and Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon, Panique hopes to continue to fill in the role of support player for the Lady Bulldogs.
Now a more complete player after her busy offseason, Panique is out to make up for lost time.
“Siguro [ngayong season], mas mai-improve ko pa kung ano yung kulang ko last year and siguro, [matuto na rin] magtiwala nalang po sa ibang kasama,” Panique told One Sports during UAAP Content Day earlier this month.
“Medyo nawala din po kasi ako nung past na games kaya this UAAP, babawi ako,” she added.
Panique is not only a renewed player with her experience, she is also under a new system with the entry of multi-titled PVL coach Sherwin Meneses to the Lady Bulldogs program.
[RELATED: Alyssa Solomon, NU Lady Bulldogs eager to integrate Sherwin Meneses’ system fast for UAAP title defense]
Operating under Meneses’ watchful eye, Panique said that they have been paying close attention to detail in order to keep themselves on top, especially with rising competitiveness across the league.
“Actually, ok naman yung adjustment namin kay Coach She. Mas maganda yung program ni Coach She ngayon kasi lahat kami nagi-improve kasi isa-isa kaming tinututukan. Naga-advise ng kung ano yung makakatulong samin mag-improve,” said Panique.
Despite all targets on their back, Panique is confident that they will be able to pull through once again to give the Lady Bulldogs their third title in the last four seasons. The secret? Giving all that they’ve got.
“Siguro, puso lang sa game. Bibigay lang kung ano yung makakaya [para manalo],” she said.
However, the Lady Bulldogs will be facing an early test as they open their season against new-age rival DLSU Lady Spikers in the main game of opening weekend on Sunday, February 16.
[RELATED: NU vs La Salle highlights opening weekend as UAAP volleyball returns for Season 87]
Panique and NU, who will be working to give Meneses a winning start in his UAAP career with the Lady Bulldogs, will brace for a fit-again Angel Canino and holdovers like Shevana Laput, Baby Jean Soreño, and Amie Provido in La Salle.