Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
It may only be the first game of the season, but Arellano’s Regine Anne Arocha made sure she gave it her usual, all-heart performance just the same.
After all, there won’t be another season for the Lady Chiefs’ clutch player.
“I feel excited, but at the same time sad because this is my last [season],” Arocha said in Filipino. She is graduating with a business administration degree this semester.
“But I feel confident because my teammates all got the individual skills and winning character,” Arocha added.
On Friday, the 5-foot-5 open spiker scored 18 points and provided a lot of morale boost as Arellano bucked opening-day jitters to defeat Lyceum, 27-25, 25-20, 25-20, at the start of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.
“If Regine decides to take up law [and extend her playing years], nobody could beat her because she just refuses to lose,” said Arellano coach Obet Javier in Filipino.
It’s saying something coming from the reticent mentor who has steered the Lady Chiefs to four championships in five seasons, including three consecutive titles.“I told the players who are graduating: Make sure your last playing year counts,” Javier added.
Arellano is also set to lose Mikaela Juanich after this season.“So far, if I’m going to assess our team, we are still not in the four-peat level,” Javier said.