Isa Molde unsure of return to UP Lady Maroons for final year

Isa Molde. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Isa Molde has been one of University of the Philippines’ pillars ever since she won Rookie of the Year honors in Season 78.

The Isa Molde era, however, may be coming to an end after four years.

Molde said she’s still unsure if she will return to the Lady Maroons for Season 82.

UP lost its chance to get to the Final Four of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament after falling to National University, 25-21, 26-24, 17-25, 23-25, 17-15, Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena

It marked the third straight year that Molde and the rest of the Lady Maroons failed to enter the semifinals.

“I still don’t know [if I will come back],” said Molde in Filipino. “I can’t say that I will be back for my fifth year because this is still too early to decide on that.”

Molde, a Physical Education major in UP Diliman, said she still has to fulfill her scholastic duties before she can decide if she will don the maroon jersey for the fifth and final year.

The 20-year-old outside spiker added that she’s disappointed at herself for failing to play at the best of her abilities in a match that could’ve given them a chance to enter the Final Four.

UP last got to the semifinals in Molde’s rookie season when the Lady Maroons finished with an 8-6 record for the fourth seed and were under the leadership of Nicole Tiamzon, Cathy Bersola, and Pia Gaiser.

“I’m disappointed at myself, because I couldn’t do anything for my team,” said Molde who finished with nine points for the Lady Maroons.

Molde averaged 10.9 points per game heading into the game against the Lady Bulldogs and she admitted that she was still wary of her left ankle injury that she suffered on March 30.

“I’m having a hard time moving around the court earlier because I just came from an injury,” said Molde. “You know that when you just came from an injury, you try to put minimal pressure on that foot.”