La Salle skips V-League to focus on academics; Gohing clarifies nat’l team pool inclusion

LA SALLE players and team members celebrate after receiving the trophy. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — After its successful conquest of a third championship in the UAAP women’s volleyball earlier this month, La Salle thought it was best to spend the summer off the court.

Graduating Lady Spiker Melissa Gohing explained their reason for skipping the first conference of the 10th Shakey’s V-League, saying “the girls want to rest and focus on academics, since we’re student athletes.”

“That’s the coaches’ promise to us,” said the Gohing Saturday night at a press conference for La Salle’s first ever general championship in the UAAP.

“They told us, ‘I know it’s hard (with twice a day training), but you can focus now on the season and try to balance everything as much as possible, then after that you can focus on academics.'”

La Salle clinched the UAAP season 75 title with a sweep of Ateneo in the finals, overcoming a two-set deficit in the first game then dominating the Lady Eagles in the second game.

But for the soft-spoken libero this year was extra special.

“This year was really special because the team was really intact. I’ve come to realize what we have compared to other teams,” Gohing said.

Gohing won five championships in her five year stay in La Salle, but you won’t be seeing her back on the court any time soon.

“I wanna prove myself in other fields naman,” Gohing said of her plans after the UAAP. “I wanna play in commercial leagues, but not now.”

Meanwhile, Gohing clarified her supposed inclusion in the Philippine women’s volleyball team.  Her name turned up in the list of the 33-player training pool.

“It’s not true. I didn’t go to any tryout or conference,” Gohing said.