UAAP: Lilay Del Castillo dedicates breakout game to late mom
La Salle Lady Spikers’ Lilay Del Castillo during a UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Lilay Del Castillo unleashed her breakout game for La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament in honor of her late mother Lilian.
The sophomore middle blocker played extra inspired as she scattered four blocks, four aces, and three attacks to finish with 11 points and helped La Salle overcome the University of the Philippines, 25-22, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17 on Sunday, which coincides with her mother’s birthday day.
READ: UAAP: La Salle scrapes past UP to get back on track in women’s volleyball
“I’m super duper happy with my performance today because when I woke up, I told myself I’d dedicate this game to my mom since it’s her 61st birthday today. I said I’d do my best to make her proud,” Del Castillo said in Filipino. “I know she always has the best seat in the arena. So, I promised myself I’d give my best for my nanay, always.”
Del Castillo’s mother passed away in 2023.
Del Castillo said she tried to translated her hard work from practice after their heartbreaking five-set loss to the University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday.
“Right now, I’m super happy and I gained a lot of confidence from this game,” she said.
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La Salle improved to a 2-2 record with Castillo thriving in her role as a starting middle blocker.
The La Salle Araneta product won’t be contented with her big game as she is hungry for more, needing to step up for the young Lady Spikers.
“I always aim for more. This could be the standard, but for me, I shouldn’t settle for anything less. I need to keep improving, keep going up with every game and training. That’s where I get my confidence,” Del Castillo said. “[I’m] hoping I can translate that into every game to contribute to the team, so that the trust given to me by the older players and coaches to play on the court won’t go to waste.”
