La Salle Lady Spikers’ Lyka De Leon during a game against FEU Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Lyka De Leon admitted it’s not easy filling in the big shoes left by former libero Justine Jazareno.
De Leon, however, vows to but she vows to be at her best in protecting the floor to help the La Salle Lady Spikers in their UAAP volleyball title defense.
“With the sudden departure of [Justine Jazareno], it felt like I was forced to step up out of the blue,” said the sophomore libero in Filipino. “At first, I was really having a hard time but my coaches guided me through it and my teammates supported me and told me I can do it. Slowly, I’ll get there.”
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball first round
Although she is facing a bigger challenge and responsibility, De Leon has been steady in La Salle’s first two games after tallying 16 digs and 12 excellent receptions in their 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 win over Far Eastern University on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
De Leon said she is slowly getting her groove as the main defensive specialist of the Lady Spikers but she is eager to continue improving her game as the season goes on.
La Salle libero Lyka De Leon.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“Good thing I’m building my confidence and character but I’m not yet super satisfied with how I performed today overall. Still a lot of lapses and as a team we’re not satisfied by winning two games. We have bigger goals than this.”
La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo urges De Leon to continue embracing her role as well as her other teammates, who are filling in the void left by graduates Jolina Dela Cruz and Mars Alba as well as Jazareno and Fifi Sharma, who turned pro with Akari in the PVL.
READ: UAAP volleyball: La Salle explains armband used in win over FEU
“We always tell them during training that they just have to do their jobs. We lost a libero and setter so they have to embrace their tasks. Every training just do the drills assigned to them and develop the areas of the game where they’re lacking.”
La Salle eyes its third straight win against UST on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“We have a lot of time to prepare for that game. Like what Angel said, those UST players aren’t going to back down from anyone. That game on Sunday is going to be a test of character for us,” De Leon said.