UE’s Van Bangayan implores her teammates to hold steadfast as the Lady Warriors try to barge into the win column in UAAP Season 87.
Van Bangayan was sure that the UE Lady Warriors needed just one more thing to get that elusive victory in UAAP Season 87, after they fell so painstakingly short of just that against Ateneo in their last game of the first round last weekend.
For Bangayan, who moved from beach volleyball to indoor for the depleted Lady Warriors, the skills are already there for UE--having shown grit and fight in flashes of brilliance during their seven-game losing streak in the tournament.
More than the physical, it’s a mental shortcoming that is denying the Lady Warriors that breakthrough victory. At least, that's what Bangayan believes.
After a scorching 5-0 run to get within a point of Ateneo in the fifth set, 14-13, before ultimately relinquishing the win, Bangayan said that they just needed to learn how to hold on.
[READ: UAAP: AC Miner, Ateneo stave off hapless UE, snap three-game losing streak to end Round 1]
“Siguro sa next round, tibayan lang po talaga 'yung loob namin. Kasi 'yun po 'yung kulang namin. Nandoon na kami, tapos eto na naman, kulang na naman,” said Bangayan, who scored four of the five points in that pivotal run.
“Wala akong masabi ngayon kasi 'yung utak ko nasa laro parin. Yung sayang na factor kasi nasa akin pa rin.”
During their seven-game slump, UE reached five sets not once but twice, including their opening game against the UP Fighting Maroons.
Being able to compete with some of contender teams as well, UE has shown potential to finally get themselves out of the hump. And if her teammates can subscribe to self-belief, Bangayan believes they can do it eventually.
“Nag-tiwala lang po ako sa mga tao sa likod. Sinabi ko talaga kay Angge [Alcantara] na siya na 'yung mag-lead sa likod... And ayun, tinrabaho ko lang din talaga sa harap kasi sinabihan ko talaga 'yung setter ko na ibigay mo na lang sa akin,” said Bangayan.
“Lumabas naman na nakahabol kami,” she added.
As for head coach Allan Mendoza, he is a big believer in Bangayan’s ability to carry the team to however far she can take them.
With a lot of offseason changes hurting UE’s chances, Mendoza puts all his faith on Bangayan and the rest of his roster.
“Sabi ko sa kanya just keep doing kung ano 'yung mga magagandang ginagawa niya. Nagtiwala lang ako sa kanya,” said Mendoza.
Round 2 of UAAP Season 87 volleyball begins on March 22.