NU sophomore Arah Panique doesn’t mind waiting at the sidelines as she waits for her time to shine with the Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 87 Finals.
Sophomore Arah Panique isn’t one to be impatient, biding her time and waiting to be called up by NU head coach Sherwin Meneses as the Lady Bulldogs chase their third title in the last four UAAP seasons.
Competing for playing time with her veteran teammates like Alyssa Solomon, Panique said that she’s simply ready to take on whatever role that Meneses will need of her. For the most part, it’s been providing a spark off the bench at the most opportune times.
In Game 1 of the Season 87 Finals against the DLSU Lady Spikers on Sunday, Panique provided key offense in NU’s victory, scoring five points in just two sets as a substitute.
Four of her points came in the pivotal second set where the Lady Bulldogs seized a commanding 2-0 lead over La Salle.
After the match, Panique spoke about how she stays ready for the role that Meneses wants her to fill, even with the likes of Solomon, Bella Belen, and Vange Alinsug taking much of the scoring responsibilities for the Lady Bulldogs.
“Yung mindset ko lang po ay ibigay kung ano yung dapat ibigay and push na po talaga kasi nga po Finals na po. Kailangan na po naming mag-focus sa goal namin,” Panique told reporters.
“Nilo-look [forward] na lang po namin yung championship,” she added.
Just in her second year for the Lady Bulldogs, Panique is raring to make it two-for-two in UAAP titles.
[RELATED: Familiarity key to NU’s convincing Game 1 victory vs La Salle in UAAP Season 87 Finals]
But more importantly, Panique hopes to give a fitting sendoff for her seniors like Solomon and Belen, who have already said that this would be their last year in the NU uniform. Once they move forward, Panique is eager to keep the winning tradition going.
“Kung ano po ang itinuturo ng mga ates ia-apply namin next year especially yung mga skills po na meron sila na kaya rin naming gawin,” she said.
As for foreseeing her role in Game 2, Panique said that she’ll just repay the trust that will be given to her at any point in the game. Whether or not Meneses will attempt to activate her remains to be seen, but if Game 1 is any indication,
Panique will be a good asset for the defending champions.
“Siguro po (sinusiklian) ko lang yung tiwala nila sa akin po. Parang sabi ko na lang sa sarili na kapag ipasok ako, ibibigay ko na lang kung anong mabibigay ko, makakaya ko,” she said.
Panique and the rest of the NU Lady Bulldogs hope to close out the series in a two-game sweep when they face La Salle for Game 2 on Wednesday, May 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.