File photo
Finishing in the sixth spot last season with 17.5 points, the Letran Men’s Volleyball team is all geared up for a better campaign in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95.
Head coach Brian Esquibel is determined to up their rank this upcoming season. He plans on utilizing his players especially with two of his seniors graduating this year.
“Last year, Season 94, mas nag-double time kami, halos lahat bago, ilan lang kaming seniors then ngayon same pa rin. ’Yung last year na first-year, sila pa rin ung nakasama namin after Season 94, siguro mga one week, two weeks lang kaming nagpahinga then nag start na kami ng training,” he said.
Seniors team captain Zechariah Sison will lead the squad as they strive for the final four berths. The graduating player, along with his co-senior, Christopher Cistina, target to push the team to the championship in their last playing year as opposite spiker and open spiker, respectively.
“Dapat as seniors, kami ung nagle-lead sa team and hindi naman porket kami lang ‘yung senior, kami lang ‘yung nag sasalita. Sinasanay namin sila na hindi porket kami lang ‘yung matanda rito kami lang ‘yung magsasalita. Lahat tayo dito leaders and mas-sinasanay namin sila kasi ‘yun nga graduating na kami, kung baga ngayon pa lang tinitrain na namin sila na dapat ganito, dapat ganyan ayun,” said Sison.
After bearing a tough loss in Season 94, the players are eager to rally for a better ranking with Sison believing their winning probability has increased for the next tourney.
“Nakita ko halos lahat kami na sobrang gutom manalo. Alam talaga naming na kaya namin and ‘yung nanalo kami, sarap sa pakiramdam’,” he said.
With optimism and determination on their side, the Letran Men’s Volleyball team will comeback better as they push forward in this Season 95.
Letran will battle against San Sebastian on Tuesday, 10 am at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
(First published on The LANCE's June-July 2019 Issue)