PVL: Ivy Lacsina to embrace any role for Nxled’s betterment

Ivy Lacsina during Nxled practice. Photo from Nxled

MANILA, Philippines — Although nothing is cast in stone whether Ivy Lacsina will be a wing spiker or middle blocker for the Nxled Chameleons, Japanese coach Taka Minowa is keen on using Lacsina as an outside spiker in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.

When asked about Lacsina’s role for the Chameleons, Minowa believes that the outside hitter position suits the versatile Lacsina not only for her PVL career but also for her bid to play internationally and for the Philippine women’s volleyball team.

“I just talked to her about what she wants in the future. She wants to play abroad and for the national team. In the Philippines, you have a lot of tall middle blockers. It’s better for her to be an outside hitter because in the Philippines the outside hitters are small. So if she can be a good outside hitter and a good passer, she will be more effective for the national team and PVL,” Minowa told reporters.

Like his wife Jaja Santiago, she was converted from middle blocker to wing spiker in the club circuit before she returned to her original position in Japan with the Ageo Medics, where the volleyball couple met.

Minowa said the 6-foot-5 Santiago is more dominant as a middle blocker as she has been tallying a high percentage in attacking and blocking for JT Marvelous in the V.League, while Lacsina, also a National University product, has the potential to be a good wing spiker with her passing.

“Compared to Jaja like ball touch and pass Ivy is better than Jaja. Hitting and block for sure Jaja is better but ball touching, Ivy is better,” the Nxled coach said.

For the 6-foot-1 Lacsina, who is playing for her second PVL club after F2 Logistics’ disbandment, she is open to playing any position regardless if she will be a spiker or middle blocker as long as it will help the young team.

“Coach said that we will both try wing and middle so nothing is final. We’ll know before the league starts,” said Lacsina in Filipino. “I also got used to playing different positions so I am willing to play whatever my role will be as long as it will help the team.”

The 24-year-old Lacsina was a middle blocker for NU when they swept the UAAP Season 84 to end the school’s 65-year title drought and played the same position in her first stint with F2 Logistics. She thrived as a hitter after emerging as the leading F2 scorer and No.8 in the league with 142 points built on 115 kills, 22 blocks, and five aces. She was also the No.4 best blocker with 0.54 kill blocks per set in the second All-Filipino Conference.

Although she is tempering her expectations with her new team and seeking to enjoy the new environment, Lacsina promised to share the experience and maturity she gained from the veteran Cargo Movers with the young Chameleons, who had four wins in their maiden PVL tournament last year. She also vowed to stay patient with her progress under Minowa.

“[What I can offer] to our young team is the leadership and maturity I got from F2 because I learned a lot from my veteran teammates,” Lacsina said. “I will trust the process because I am impatient when it comes to my progress. Coach told me to avoid pressuring myself because everything is part of the process.”

“I am not setting high expectations in my first conference with Nxled because I want to enjoy my first year. Because when you enjoy the progress of your game will follow. My goal is to improve my skills and help the team,” she added.

Lacsina said it’s easier to get along with her teammates with the help of Minowa and being the same age as her teammates.

“It’s easier now because my ates and coach Taka are guiding me. They are easy to get along with because we’re all almost the same age,” she said.