La Salle’s Thea Gagate in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball finals. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Thea Gagate apologized to Sheena Toring, who hurt her knee after landing on the La Salle middle blocker’s foot following a block attempt in the fifth set of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball Finals Game 1 on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With La Salle holding a slim 13-12 lead in the fifth set, Toring attempted to stop Angel Canino’s attack before the National University star went down and was stretchered off the court.
Gagate, who finished with 17 points including four blocks, said it wasn’t intentional.
“To be honest, akala ko siya yung pumasok pero ako pala. Syempre na feel bad ako kasi hindi ko naman yun sinasadya,” said Gagate, the reigning Best Middle Blocker. “Sana lang hindi super masama yung injury niya and magpagaling na. Syempre as a friend din, i’m sorry sa nangyari.”
(To be honest, I thought she was the one who went inside but it was me instead. Of course I feel bad because I did not do it on purpose. I just hope her injury isn’t that bad and I wish her well. Of course, as a friend, I’m sorry for what happened.)
The Lady Spikers pulled off a comeback win, 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13, over the Lady Bulldogs to inch a win closer from ending a five-year title drought.
Toring, who finished with six points, admitted she was frustrated to leave the game when they were trying to fight back in the fifth set.
“Naapakan ko po si Thea. Doon ko naramdaman iyong paa niya. Bigla nalang may pumitik from ankle to knee,” said last season’s 2nd Best Middle Blocker. “Disappointed siyempre kasi Game 1 championship iyong laro namin. Kailangan talaga- lalo na ginagamit ako, first six ako. Siguro part of the game lang. Move on nalang siguro. Wala na akong time mag-emote. Patapos na iyong season.”
NU athletic trainer Dwight Demayo said Toring’s injury is “nothing serious so far” and they are hopeful that Toring will return in Game 2 next week when the Lady Bulldogs try to extend the series on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“So far, (her knee) is intact. But it depends on how she will quickly respond to her rehab. But so far, she’s okay, nothing serious,” Demayo said in Filipino.
NU faces a tall order in defending its title as it hasn’t beaten La Salle in three matches so far this season.