Arado eager to prove worth in national team pool

UE libero Kat Arado. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net

University of the East libero Kath Arado is ready to prove her place among the top defenders in Philippine volleyball as part of the the 25-strong national team pool.

Arado was one of the four liberos included in the pool along with La Salle’s Dawn Macandili, Generika’s Bia General, and Codolife’s Denden Lazaro.

READ: Sorry, LVPI tells Ateneo for missed invites

“It’s a blessing that I’m included because these are amazing liberos that I am with in the pool,” said Arado after the Lady Warriors lost to University of the Philippines 25-14, 18-25, 25-15, 25-10 in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament.

“The coaches and the LVPI saw something in me and it’s now my job to grab that opportunity and prove that I belong with the team.”

Arado added she’s excited to play with Lazaro and Macandili, who have practically defined the role in their own ways.

READ: Valdez, Santiago lead PH volleyball nat’l team pool

Macandili won the Finals MVP of the 2016 PSL Grand Prix with F2 Logistics while Lazaro was the defensive anchor of Ateneo’s back-to-back UAAP titles.

“Of course the pressure’s there but it’s a challenge,” said Arado who plays under national team coach Francis Vicente in UE.

“Coach Francis always said that even though there are better players than me, I should always take it as a challenge so that I can see the areas where I can improve.”