Reigning Rookie-MVP Angel Canino recalls the rollercoaster of a journey that was her Season 86 campaign with erstwhile champion DLSU Lady Spikers.
Everything was going according to plan for reigning UAAP rookie-MVP Angel Canino and the DLSU Lady Spikers with their title-retention bid.
Sitting second with a 7-1 record behind league-leaders UST Growling Tigresses in the early part of the second round of eliminations, the reigning champs were on track for yet another title season.
Well, until the Lady Spikers hit a big snag.
Canino sustained an arm injury and did not play in DLSU’s game vs. the UP Fighting Maroons on April 4. The 20-year-old power hitter looked back on that tough stretch in which she missed the next five games.
“Syempre, wala po ako magawa physically. 'Yung magawa ko lang po talaga inside is magsabi sa kanila [na] ‘yung pwede nila i-adjust during that game” Canino said on the Pilipinas Live's Starting Lineup.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Reigning MVP Angel Canino sits out La Salle-UP game due to right arm injury, timeline for return still unclear]
“Yun na lang talaga tinatatak ko sa utak ko. Na ‘yun na lang maitutulong ko at that moment. So give all ko na 'yung support ko sa kanila and magsasalita din ako na makakatulong sa kanila.”
Canino did not participate in any volleyball drills in the next three games, including being reduced to a spectator role in DLSU’s four-set loss against rivals NU Lady Bulldogs.
[ALSO READ: Will Angel Canino play against NU? Reigning UAAP MVP spotted without arm sling and cast while supporting Green Spikers]
It got to the point that her mother Sol had to clarify issues and dispel rumors that Angel was pregnant or going pro.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Angel Canino's mother clarifies issues surrounding DLSU superstar’s injury, going pro rumors]
Afterwards, the young volleybelle was then seen participating with her teammates in their pre-game activities in their penultimate game against rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles. after that win, DLSU assistant coach Noel Orcullo gave some positive updates on the 5-foot-11 outside hitter's health.
"Maganda naman 'yung progress ng recovery niya. So far, nagthe-therapy naman na siya so hopefully makabalik siya. Hindi naman sa game sa UST, sa semis," Orcullo said during the post-game press conference.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: What's the playing status of MVP Angel Canino after De La Salle's dominant win over Ateneo?]
While La Salle would end up going 4-1 without Canino, the damage has been done to the Taft-based squad, who needed four and five sets respectively to defeat celler-dwellars teams UP and UE Red Warriors, far from the somewhat expected outing against those teams.
Prior to the game against the Fighting Maroons, Angel had never missed a single match for DLSU since entering in the women’s collegiate volleyball scene last year.
Canino even revealed that she did not expect to return instantly, let alone play in the Lady Spikers’ crucial and final elimination round encounter against rivals UST in which the no. 2 spot and a twice-to-beat edge were at stake.
“Sobrang saya po kasi hindi ko din po inexpect na makakalaro po ako agad-agad. I didn’t expect na maglalaro din ako sa second round [ng] last game.”
La Salle would end up losing in that pivotal game, settling for the no. 3 seed heading to the Final Four. They were eventually booted out of the competition by the Golden Tigresses.
[ALSO READ: "Mini Miss UST" complete Season 86 trifecta to dethrone De La Salle as UAAP champions]
This season was not meant to be for the Lady Spikers.
Still, the rookie-MVP remained grateful to the people who helped her to overcome the adversity she and the whole DLSU Lady Spikers faced in Season 86.
“Natutuwa ako sa sarili ko and malaki 'yung pasasalamat ko sa mga tao na tumulong sa’kin para mag-heal. And malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa itaas, kasi kung hindi po dahil sa Kaniya ‘di ako maghi-heal ng mabilis.”
[ALSO READ: UAAP Finals schedule: UST Golden Tigresses, NU Lady Bulldogs figure in an unexpected, but perfect title pairing]
This is not the end for Angel.
For now, she'll be dancing and chilling to BINI's Pantropiko.