Count on rookie Marga Altea to fit into any position that the UST Golden Tigresses will need from her in UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball.
Marga Altea is a super rookie for the UST Golden Tigresses, but not in the way that anyone thinks.
It’s not for her scoring prowess, jaw-dropping stats, or even flashy performances. But Altea is one of a kind in a way that she maneuvers herself in all the ways that the España squad wants her to do — and in a highly efficient way as well.
Altea has played multiple rules for head coach Kungfu Reyes in UAAP Season 87.
From starting out as a middle blocker, Altea was able to suit up for UST as an outside spiker when the team needed someone to fill in the roles in the wings.
Then, when Em Banagua suffered an apparent injury a couple of games ago, Altea was thrust right back into the middle blocker role. Those two games resulted in wins for the Golden Tigresses.
In their 25-15, 26-24, 26-24 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Saturday, Altea flaunted her versatility as she finished with 10 points, built off seven attacks and three block points.
[READ: UAAP: UST Golden Tigresses maul Ateneo Blue Eagles to strengthen Final Four bid]
Showing off her readiness to fill in any role, Altea was happy to help her team get the win.
“Siyempre masaya po kasi pinagte-training-an ko rin naman po ‘to. Lumalabas lang po yung mga efforts ko po sa laro,” said Altea.
Despite her consistent performances, Altea admitted that she was sometimes caught off guard by what she needed to do for her team.
Instead of shying away from it, though, the versatile hitter said that she’s ready to take on anything thanks to her training.
“May times po talaga na hindi ko po talaga alam kung ano 'yung papasukan ko,” Altea quipped.
“Kaya po sa training, lahat na lang po ng drills, sumasama ako para kapag laro, 'di na po ako magulat or prepared po kung ano 'yung ibibigay sa’kin na role,” she added.
As far as Reyes is concerned, he’s simply delighted to have a player like Altea who is so much willing to contort herself to fit the team’s needs.
“'Yun nga, sabi niya sa training namin, basta kailangan meron siyang touch sa middle. Hindi pwedeng mawala. Puro situational na 'yung mga nangyayari sa adjustment. Hindi naman ito bago sa pagiging middle. Mas madali na 'yung few adjustments para sa kanya,” said Reyes.
“But still, 'yung pagiging wing spiker, kailangan nakakabig pa rin sa kanya,” he added.
UST is in solo third via a 7-4 slate with three games remaining in eliminations. The Golden Tigresses face the cellar-dwelling UE Lady Warriors next on Saturday, April 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.