Lourdes Clemente slowly showing true potential for La Salle as she adjusts to UAAP grind

MANILA, Philippines—It took some time but Lourdes Clemente finally made her impact for De La Salle in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.

Clemente scored her first points in the UAAP in the Lady Spikers’ 25-10, 20-25, 27-25, 25-22  victory over National University Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Center, effectively putting her name on the board.

After playing out her first four collegiate years with University of Perpetual Help in the NCAA, Clemente made the jump to the UAAP and enrolled in La Salle’s Master of Marketing Communication program.

Clemente finished with five points in her third game with the Lady Spikers but she’s far from satisfied with her performance.

“I got a little bit of confidence but I’m really not satisfied with how I played because there are still a lot of areas that I have to focus on,” said Clemente in Filipino. “The coaches always tell me not to be contented with how I play.”

Clemente scored her first point with a quick kill for the 22-all tie in the third set but her highlight play of the day came in the fourth set when she drilled Jennifer Nierva for the Lady Spikers’ 23-21 lead.

La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus said that Clemente has yet to push her limits especially in the UAAP where games are longer due to rallies.

“I think in the other league one attack and the play is finished, there’s no rally since Lourdes is already big and her limits haven’t been stretched,” said De Jesus in Filipino of the 6-foot-1 middle blocker.

“She not only has to block, but she also has to anticipate what the opponents would do,” added De Jesus.

Clemente admitted that she’s had a harder time in the UAAP since she’s also trying to quickly adapt to De Jesus’ system with De La Salle.

“It’s a big difference, I don’t want to compare, but it’s really harder here,” said Clemente. “My first goal is to adapt to the system of coach Ramil.”