Denden Lazaro. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Playing through pain after twisting her left ankle, Denden Lazaro gave Ateneo an emotional lift in a four-set loss to De La Salle in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 76 women’s volleyball Finals Saturday.
Lazaro, who was named Best Digger and Best Receiver earlier, hurt her foot midway through the opening set and appeared doubtful to return as she stayed on the bench while the Lady Spikers took a 2-0 set lead.
But Lazaro would come back later in the game and her return – that brought the Ateneo crowd to its feet – provided the Lady Eagles a much-needed boost.
“Sabi nung PT wag na lang kasi (Our PT advised me not to play) to preserve the energy for the next games. I wanted to play. I wanted to help the team out so pinilit ko na lang (I just forced myself to play),” admitted Lazaro, who sustained the injury while going after the ball.
“I just wanted to calm my teammates down,” said Lazaro, who visibly favored her injured ankle while on the court, when asked what went through her mind when she came back on the floor in the third set.
Lazaro, who will play in Game 3, though, did more than just that as she immediately made her presence felt to spark a 25-19 win in the third set.
“Basically, siya yung buhay ng team namin kasi sa kanya nagsa-start lahat (she’s the life of the team). Siyempre sobrang laking factor ni Den nung nawala siya, nawala game plan namin (Her loss was a big factor because we lost our game plan when we lost her),” acknowledged her teammate and newly-minted MVP Alyssa Valdez.
“We fought hard naman sa latter sets kinapos lang sa dulo (we just fell short),” said Lazaro, the fourth year libero.
“We’ll be ready for La Salle. We have to work on all aspects of the game. We have to prepare,” added Lazaro, who still came away with the game-high 11 excellent digs.
Game 3 is on Wednesday, 4 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena.
RELATED STORY
La Salle gets back at Ateneo, moves a win away from ‘four peat’