Sweeter the Second Time Around

....or Why the La Salle Women's Volleyball Team will Win the 73rd UAAP Women's Volleyball Championship

La Salle fans and critics have "marveled" at how the UST Tigresses managed to sweep the defending champions in last season's Finals. It was heartbreaking not only for the volleyball players themselves but also for their fans and supporters who taught, with the Lady Spikers' skills and almost-impeccable timing, that they were going all the way. They never lost a game in the eliminations until they met the roaring Tigresses who people said, "peaked  at the right time." That loss was the start of the Lady Spikers' spiral down to defeat.

This season, the 73rd of the UAAP, almost the same line-up that lost to UST in the 72nd season have come back to play. Except for the three players who graduated (Kaye Martinez, Camille Cerveza, Regine Diego), the line-up was intact. La Salle also recruited good players to include in their 14-woman roster.

FIVE REASONS WHY LA SALLE WILL BE CHAMPS THIS SEASON:

Mika Esperanza. The advent of this gem of a setter shows a bright future ahead for the Lady Spikers--not only for this year but in the coming years ahead. In all the years that I have been a volleyball fan, I noticed that the La Salle offense (and even defense) relies heavily on the strength of their setter. We all know what Chi Saet did for La Salle in the late 1990s/early 2000s. After her, La Salle struggled to find an equally competent player to take Saet's place. But this year, they have successfully recruited Mika Esperanza of De La Salle-Lipa. For a rookie, Esperanza have shown composure and leadership on court by deciding well, and giving efficient sets. I will be surprised if she will not win the Rookie of the Year Award this season. (Note: La Salle rookies have won this award in the past two years, Melissa Gohing and Joanne Siy.)

Improved team offense and defense. Good sets translate to better scoring. Compared to the team last year, the line-up this year has stepped up in terms of scoring. Abigail Maraño and Michelle Gumabao have both improved on their game, and are now part of the scoring threats of the team. Their improvement, and involvement in offense lessened the pressure and attention (aka defense) given to veteran-graduating players Steph Mercado and Jacq Alarca. The players have gradually realized and adapted their roles in the team.

The players' improvement on offense is also evident in defense. The consistent and efficient blocking, and the remarkable improvement in floor defense (especially in Game 1 of the Finals against UST) make up for the deterioration of their libero's play this season. I guess she's suffering from Junior jinx (as opposed to sophomore jinx).

Luck. In some cases, skills and talent alone are not enough to win games and championships. Luck definitely plays a factor, although coaches do not want to heavily rely on this. This season La Salle had the breaks of the game going for them--most of the time. Also, they were lucky to have no injuries on their key players. More importantly, they were lucky (read: fortunate) to have just one game nullified in light of the controversy involving their players.

Cruz' leadership-by-example. Not to disregard or make less of Mercado's leadership as team captain last year, Cha Cruz's ascent as the captain this season translated to the improvement, versatility and consistency of her game. Whenever the team is down (in morale or in score) or the other team is threatening to make a comeback, she would step up and score to stave off the other team's rally. During the games, she is the first to cheer for a scored point and the first to move on and forget about a botched play. She keeps focused on court, and plays with smarts--evident of a true leader.

Experience. Losing the championship last year (in a sweep manner, no less) made the team this year tougher and consequently better. The players now know how to handle pressure and not back down to the challenge and criticisms the crowd throws at them. Before the Lady Spikers reached the Finals this season, they experienced two or three five-setter matches, all of which they won. In contrast to last year, when they lost the five-setter matches they had against UST, making the team vulnerable to pressure. They didn't have 'veterans' to turn to last season; whereas this season, Alarca, Mercado and Cruz step up during big games. As a whole, the Lady Spikers have developed the toughness of a Mich Datuin, the smarts of a Chi Saet, and the skills of a Des Hernandez. The question that remains to be answered is this: Will they have the heart of an Illa Santos?

A precious morning

If death was a person I will both fear and love it. I fear encountering it now--when I consider myself too young to have made an impression on the world, and the people I have met; when I consider myself not to have achieved relevant things; when I consider myself not to have attained the degree of happiness and satisfaction that I envisioned to have; and when I consider myself to have lived through the twenty one years of my life instead of living these twenty one years to the fullest. I would love to face it when I'm ready. But as of now, I don't exactly know when that time be or what will make me feel that the time is right, but I do know that death is something I fear, as of the moment.

February will always be a special month for me for two simple reasons: on February 1990, the person who has influenced and touched my life more than anyone could (with the exception of my mother) was born *hint* *hint*; and on the 12th of February 2010, I received the news that I got into UP Law, which I consider to be the first step towards realizing my goals in life.

Today, February 8 2011, the Philippines woke up to experience the truth about life: It is precious, live it fully. First, our incumbent president, President Noynoy Aquino was born on this day, several years ago. Birth is always commemorated by celebrating birthdays, and declaring national heroes' birthdays as national holidays. Bonifacio Day is, in fact, the date of birth of the Filipino hero, Andres Bonifacio. Second, today, former Secretary Angelo Reyes committed suicide in front of the tomb of his mother in Loyola Heights, Marikina City. We, Filipinos, view death not with the same candor as we have dealt with birthdays. Shouldn't we be happy that a person died having lived his life to the fullest? Or do we readily assume that death of a person is an unfortunate thing? What does Rizal Day, which falls on the day our national hero Dr Jose Rizal died, imply then? 

On a less nationally relevant (and more personal) note, I went to work today, relatively earlier than usual. I rode the jeep to Philcoa at around 7:15, and rode another jeep to San Mateo, Maly at around 7:30pm. When we were near Ever Gotesco, the driver said to another close-by driver who was blocking his way, "Walang preno, walang preno. Na-loose brake ako." Knowing that the jeep was not at full speed, I did not panic, and got off the jeep as soon as the driver successfully "parked" the jeep near the side of the road. I rode another jeep, and arrived at the office safely.

Upon hearing of Angelo Reyes' death on the news that same morning, my mind drifted off to my jeep mishap. Questions started crossing my mind. "What if" this, "what if" that. But I choose not to dwell on the negative (aka near-death experience part two?) but on the positive side of today's events. 

To put things simply, I thank God for guiding the hand (and the foot?) of the driver of the jeep, and for steering the jeep to safety despite the lack of brakes. Commonwealth Ave. is a risky place to be in, without brakes, but surprisingly no one was hurt. 

Life is precious. God is doing his best to make us realize the joys of life and keep us from harm. He gave us life--a gift so precious no one should end but Him. The best we could do to show gratitude for this gift of life is to live it fully and right.