Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring are cherishing their final moments with the NU Lady Bulldogs as they approach the end of their UAAP careers.
With the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball championship on the line, NU seniors Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring are soaking in every moment as they approach the final days of their college careers.
Their leadership and legacy were on full display as the Lady Bulldogs took Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals series, overpowering the DLSU Lady Spikers in four sets, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Pangilinan and Toring, both recent graduates of NU—Erin with a degree in Psychology and Sheena in Tourism Management—have been fixtures of the Lady Bulldogs' dominant run over the past years.
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As they now prepare for what could be their last game in NU colors, emotions are understandably running high.
“Masaya. Parang na-lessen 'yung burden namin, especially compared to last season na madami kaming iniisip,” Pangilinan told One Sports on their recent graduation. “Ngayon, nakapag-focus talaga kami sa Finals.”
“Nakakatuwa kasi everybody is looking forward talaga sa game na ito. Parang main point ng graduation is ‘good luck,'” she added.
[ALSO READ: NU’s Bella Belen, Sheena Toring, Erin Pangilinan celebrate graduation ahead of UAAP Finals]
Toring, who has also been with NU since her high school days, also echoed the bittersweet feelings.
“Masaya din talaga kasi mas na-lessen 'yung burden. Wala na kaming masyadong iniisip kundi ito na lang, finals,” she said. “Sobrang motivated kami kasi nung nag-graduation, maraming dean, mga professors na nag-go-good luck sa amin.”
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As they prepare to close a significant chapter in their lives, the two seniors reflected on how deeply rooted they’ve become in the NU community and in the growth of their younger teammates.
Pangilinan bared that a perfect send-off wouldn’t just be a championship repeat—it’s also about cherishing the final days spent with their teammates.
“Of course, 'yung back-to-back kami—that would be the most perfect send-off sa mga bata namin but also a little time din with them would be nice, especially, siyempre hindi naman basta-basta na iiwan lang namin sila eh kasi how long? Parang 11 years na magkakasama kami pero hindi naman basta-basta mawawala 'yun.”
“I think after this Finals, more bonding talaga with them. Ayun 'yung mami-miss namin sa bawat araw na parang mag-iisa nalang kami.”
With one more win, Pangilinan and Toring could walk off the court as champions once again, capping off their decorated careers in fitting fashion.
But beyond the championships, it’s the bond with their team that they’ll remember most.