National University’s Jaja Santiago. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
During the UAAP Season 78, National University had a full roster consisting of 18 players, but that big of a lineup only managed to give the Lady Bulldogs the fifth seed in the women’s volleyball tournament.
Fast forward to the offseason and to the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference, 18 became 11 and team captain Jaja Santiago knows the team has no choice but to develop and work on what they have.
Despite the seven-player exodus which included Rica Diolan, Marites Pablo, and Bia General, the Lady Bulldogs started their V-League campaign on a positive note in trumping provincial team Laoag, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21 Saturday at San Juan Arena.
“Mas naging masaya kami, siguro di na namin ini stress mga sarili namin na ang daming nawala, although nalungkot naman kami,” said Santiago, who finished with 21 points. “Hindi kami dapat maghanap nung mga wala, palakasin, pagtiyagaan, at improve namin kung ano meron kami ngayon.”
The Lady Bulldogs lost several key players but found a versatile one in Risa Sato who was a member of the Philippine team that played in the Asian Under-23 Championships.
Sato may be donning the navy-and-gold jersey of NU, but the other Lady Bulldogs have another problem—the language barrier.
Santiago said if they can’t break the proverbial wall, they act out the message they want to send across.
“Pag-training pag sinasabihan namin si Risa, minsan naiintindihan naman niya, pag hindi talaga dun na namin ine-explain,” Santiago said on communicating with their Fil-Japanese teammate.
“Pero minsan talaga nag a acting na kami,” Santiago added with a laugh.