F2 Logistics’ Ivy Lacsina. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Ivy Lacsina showed nerves of steel from the service line in front of an ecstatic 6,765 crowd on Saturday at Philsports Arena as she rose to the occasion in F2 Logistics’ brewing rivalry with Creamline in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
When the Cargo Movers cut the Cool Smashers’ fifth set lead down to one, 14-13, team captain Aby Marano asked Lacsina to make her serves and try to score an ace for her team in the most crucial part of the game.
“Actually, nung pumasok ako, sabi ko kay Ivy, ipasok mo lang yung service mo. Tapos yung dumidepensa sa harap ako si Kianna [Dy] at si Ara [Galang],” said Marano. “Sabi namin sa service ni Ivy… Ivy sa pinakaimportante na moment, mag-ace ka. Tapos na-deliver naman.”
(Actually, when I entered the court I told Ivy to make your serves, as I, Kianna, and Ara were defending in front. We were asking Ivy to make an ace in the most important moment [of this game]. We’re glad she delivered.)
Lacsina made sure to get the job done as her two pressure-packed serves went in, leading to Kianna Dy’s go-ahead block on Tots Carlos to take the match point, 15-14.
And when it mattered most, the young middle blocker heeded Marano’s call, sinking the game-winning ace that completed their come-from-behind 23-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-23, 16-14 victory over the Cool Smashers.
F2 Logistics coach Regine Diego lauded the maturity of Lacsina, despite “not being the type of player to score an ace.”
“She’s maturing, obviously. Ever since she’s not the type of player who makes a lot of service aces. But now, she’s maturing, she’s growing up to a woman that can carry herself and her team,” said Diego in Filipino.
Diego previously handled the 23-year-old Lacsina both in high school and college when she was part of Nazareth School and National University’s coaching staff.
Lacsina finished only with seven markers but she displayed grace under pressure, scoring the most important point that brought back F2 Logistics in second place, tying Creamline at 3-1.
The youthful Cargo Movers coach sees the 6-foot-1 middle blocker leading her team in the future.
“Eventually in the future, hopefully, she can carry the team on her own, and help her teammates win a championship,” Diego said.