Medics tend to University of the East’s Celine Domingo after the Lady Warriors skipper hurt her right ankle in the first set of their game against the UP Lady Maroons in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 20, 2016, at Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Randolph B. Leongson/INQUIRER.net
As if what looms to be another winless season isn’t enough, University of the East took another hit after its skipper Celine Domingo sprained her ankle in a loss to University of the Philippines on Sunday.
The outside hitter twisted her right ankle after making a successful block together with teammate Meann Mendrez in the first set. That play gave the Lady Warriors a 14-12 lead but Domingo, who writhed in pain on the floor, had to be taken out as doctors tended to her hurting ankle.
Still, that didn’t deter the rest of her teammates as UE held its own against the Lady Maroons before narrowly dropping the first two sets, 25-23 and 25-22.
Not wanting to leave her teammates in the thick of the fight, Domingo returned in the third set but the Lady Warriors could not sustain their run as they eventually fell in straight sets with the Lady Maroons outclassing them in the third set, 25-14.
“Iniisip ko na lang na kailangan ako ng team (My team needs me),” Domingo said after the game. “Kailangan kong lumaban at i-overcome yung injury kasi yun ang tinuro sa amin ni coach, yung mental toughness (I need to fight and overcome the injury because that’s what coach taught us, to have mental toughness). Pinush ko talaga makabalik (I really pushed myself to return).”
Though UE fell to its 56th straight defeat and has yet to notch a win in 11 games this UAAP Season 78, Domingo feels it’s just a matter of time before her team gets the elusive win.
“Siguro nagsisink-in na sa amin lahat ng motivation (We’re starting to feel motivated to win). Lahat ng lessons, naa-apply namin (We’ve been able to apply the lessons we’ve learned so far),” she said.