Gaston embraces last-minute role change to libero

At the start of the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament, Ponggay Gaston was listed as an opposite hitter for Ateneo.

Yet on Wednesday, the third year Lady Eagle got switched to a defense-centric player when head coach Tai Bundit decided that Gaston will be an effective libero against Far Eastern University.

And Bundit’s gamble paid off with the Lady Eagles taking their fifth win of the season with a three-set sweep of the Lady Tamaraws, 25-19, 25-21, 25-17.

Gaston, who has a minor sprain on her left ankle, said she only knew of her assignment the night before they faced FEU at the second round of the tournament.

“I have a sprain so I knew that my only job would be to receive and I can do that,” said Gaston, who shared libero duties with Ria Lo, in Filipino. “I knew I didn’t have to jump and I just focused on my job and make my teammates happy.”

Gaston isn’t new in playing different positions as she was a middle blocker during her high school days at University of Santo Tomas and she once played as an outside hitter for Ateneo in Premier Volleyball League.

And in her first game playing as a libero, Gaston registered seven excellent receptions and that is just one less than Lo had.

“When I got to Ateneo my position really changed so I’m used to all this constant changing,” said Gaston. “So whatever coach Tai tells me I’ll just do it and instead of complaining I’ll just think that coach Tai gave me this responsibility because I can do it.”