Graduating Lady Bulldog regrets failing to deliver in final game

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It wasn’t a UAAP Season 78 to remember for Ivy Perez.

Despite a stellar performance in the commercial leagues, it wasn’t enough for the graduating Lady Bulldog to get her enough minutes in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Championship.

Perez, who won the Best Setter award in the Philippine Super Liga, had to contend with rookie Rica Diolan and fellow fifth year player Jocelyn Soliven for playing time, she, however, wasn’t bothered with the lack of minutes.

“Hindi dahil graduating na ako eh obliged na akong maglaro, hindi naman ganun, parang ang selfish naman nun,” Perez said Wednesday after National University were eliminated from Final Four contention following a loss to De La Salle. “Siyempre team sport ito, kailangan parang balasa.”

What Perez regrets, though, is her subpar performance in her final collegiate game as the Lady Bulldogsfailed to make a bid for the last spot in the semifinals. 

Perez attempted a total of 61 sets in her matchup against La Salle’s Kim Fajardo but she only registered 17 excellent ones while her counterpart had 59. 

“Heartbreaking? For me yes,” Perez said. “Kasi last playing year ko na and kung kailan patapos na may fall back pa.”

“Kakaiyak, masakit yung exit kasi hindi ako pasok sa Final Four at kung kailan ako ginamit di ko naibigay lahat.”