Mae Tajima of Bali Pure (left) with her teammates. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
For five years under the Ateneo banner, Mae Tajima has had her fair share of fans.
Throngs of people would usually wait for her every time the Lady Eagles leave the game venue, but Tajima has always been the shy one for Ateneo.
But on Wednesday, Tajima came out of her shell and showed her own brilliance, complementing the two-headed monster of Alyssa Valdez and Grethcel Soltones.
Tajima scored a career-high eight points to be named the Player of the Game, also a first in her career as Bali Pure swept Laoag en route to its fourth straight win in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference.
Valdez praised Tajima for her performance, which she said is a result of her hard work.
“I’m super proud, and ever since naman talaga very hard working na si Mae,” said Valdez who was in her usual self with 20 points. “We’re really happy na ganyan ang performance niya.”
Tajima was part of the Lady Eagles team that went undefeated in Season 77 en route to the title, though she had only been a filler.
Valdez, though, never underestimated Tajima’s value.
Bali Pure head coach Charo Soriano was also proud of Tajima, who she thinks should see more action.
“She’s such a great player, she needs more exposure though but you can see naman even with the time she’s on the court that there’s a lot of difference talaga in terms of aggressiveness,” said Soriano. “She has it in her, she just needs more exposure, and she’s proving herself.”
“She’s such a grown lady.”
“I’m just really happy and proud of Mae and I know marami pa siyang ipapakita,” said Valdez.