Top rookie Molde not looking too far ahead, vows to fight harder for UP

Rookie of the Year Isa Molde says award with her mother. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines became the UAAP darlings this season when its Lady Maroons made one spirited campaign to the Final Four.

Ateneo, though, showed the Lady Maroons the door in the semifinal round but it should not be discounted how the UP, a team composed of steady veterans and enthusiastic rookies, shocked the UAAP volleyball landscape.

In the middle of all that was the bubbly newbie Isa Molde.

UP had seven rookies in its roster including the likes of Diana Carlos, and Justine Dorog but it was Molde who who stood out the most as she received the Rookie of the Year award Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Try naming lumaban every game para makuha ang gusto namin next year,” Molde, the first-ever RoY awardee from the Diliman campus, said after receiving the award and sharing it with her mother.

With a Rookie of the Year citation now in her resume, big things are expected of the youngster but Molde just wants to enjoy what she has right now.

Asked if an MVP trophy is next, all she mustered was a laugh and a shrug.

“Ewan ko po,” Molde smiled at the prospect of winning the top individual award. “Wag ko po muna isipin yun, isipin ko lang po na maglalaro kami.”

“Enjoy ko po muna itong Rookie of the Year.”

What she vowed, though, is a better Lady Maroons team come Season 79.

“Lalaban po kami, papakita best namin,” Molde said.