LADY BULLDOG JASMINE NABOR ADJUSTING WELL TO HER NEW ROLE
By Maxine Louise Lagman
8 February 2017
WITH the National University Lady Bulldogs perfect playmaker Jasmin Nabor along volleyball veteran Jaja Santiago, the Ateneo Lady Eagles surely faced a hard wall to break. And so when the fourth set kicked in, Ateneo’s Michelle Morente held on and made a powerful spike, but Nabor put on a hard block, finally ending the one hour and 45 minute-tournament on Wednesday at the San Juan Arena.
After winning against Ateneo, 25-17, 25-13, 19-25 and 29-27, second year Nabor registered about 43 sets of the team in a match and was named player of the game.
“As expected, maayos naman si Jas lagi. Bago kami maglaro ang sabi ko sakanila, labanan ito ng setter. Pag binigay ni jas ng maayos kay Jaja at sa mga spiker,” said NU Coach Roger Gorayeb.
Nabor, who started out her career in the volleyball tournament as a promising open utility spiker, she made sure that she gave out her best as a setter as well. “Nakaka-adjust si Jas e. Walang double, pati yung mga palo niya gumagana,” added Gorayeb.
Ateneo almost extended the match into a fifth set, but Nabor led the team in the fourth set and perfectly executed a good game plan in accordance to Coach Gorayeb’s instruction – give everything to Jaja. Sure enough, with six-foot five Jaja on the frontline during those tough moments, Ateneo’s defense weakened and was unable to receive Santiago’s powerful attacks.
Santiago had a total of 26 points from 19 attacks, six blocks and a service ace.
Bea De Leon, third year Lady Eagle player, said that they really had a hard time playing against NU. She acknowledged their team’s errors especially in the receiving end, while NU had a great defense on the floor.
“Nagpapasalamat ako na nanalo kami ngayon. Nandun kami sa gusto naming tahakin. Pero di pa rin sapat yun para masabi na kung ano yung outcome ng UAAP. Marami pang laro, madami pa kaming pagdadaanan,” Coach Gorayeb in the post-game interview.
The Lady Bulldogs are set to play against the Adamson Lady Falcons on Sunday at the San Juan Arena. Coach Gorayeb assures that his team would continue on practicing and correcting their mistakes and hopefully win the match against Adamson and a third straight win to keep their number one spot in the UAAP volleyball standing.
“Ano man yung nilalaro (ng Adamson) hindi ko na papansinin. Gusto lang namin mangyari, ay gagawin namin ang lahat. Kailangan namin maka-accumulate ng maraming panalo,” added NU Coach Gorayeb. “Di pa naman tapos. Ang layo layo pa ng UAAP.”
On the other hand, Ateneo dropped to 1-1 win-loss slate and will play against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Sunday as well.
Follow the writer on Twitter: [social link=”https://twitter.com/burnsports” icon=”62218″]
