Angel Canino has never lacked in skills, but the La Salle ace is working on being a better leader and being an emotional anchor for the Lady Spikers in UAAP Season 88.
The UAAP offseason has been a productive one for La Salle Lady Spiker Angel Canino, with multiple stints for Alas Pilipinas — most recently playing in the Southeast Asian Games late last year.
While skills have been paramount to her growth in the past few months, owing to her exposure to higher-level competition, Canino has also been focused on making herself a better teammate.
Canino is already in her fourth year with DLSU, and stands as one of the team’s veteran leaders alongside designated captain Shevana Laput.
[RELATED: Shevana Laput encourages La Salle to look inward for UAAP Season 88]
According to the former Rookie-MVP, the the road to UAAP Season 88 offered her opportunities to improve on a different aspect to her role.
“I learned how to build a relationship sa bawa't isa sa team,” Canino told One Sports.
“Ngayon kasi kami na yung ate, so wala na kaming ibang ate na tinatanungan kung anong dapat naming gawin, kundi, kami na yung nag-lead ng team.”
Canino's UAAP career has shown her as a formidable on-court presence, leading the Lady Spikers to the Season 85 title and another Finals appearance last year.
But as stakes get higher as her UAAP seasons diminish, Canino knows that there’s more to her role with the Lady Spikers than just racking up high-scoring performances.
“Very important for us na ipakita din sa mga bata na willing kami na sabihin sa kanila na andito kami for them, na kahit anong mangyayari, hindi kami aalis sa kanila,” she said.
“So, ang pinaka-importante na role talaga namin is to guide them sa kahit anong situation, masamaman yan, sa masaya man yan, andun kami para i-guide sila ng mabuti at ipa-remind sa kanila constantly kung anong values namin as a Lady Spiker.”
Learning from the best
But of course, there was also a lot of growth skill-wise for Canino.
From the physical to the mental, the La Salle ace was able to take valuable lessons from other high-caliber players through her many international stints.
“Ang dami ko din talagang natutunan lalo na ang dami ko din talagang na-experience with the pro players and of course, magkaiba din talaga when it comes to discipline ng mga pro players and yung maturity ng mga pro players,” Canino said.
“Talagang isa din yun sa hinahangaan ko po sa kanila kasi, me naman as a student athlete, madami pa akong kailangan i-learn and isa yun sa mga natutunan ko nung pre-season,” she added.
Ahead of another grueling chase for the UAAP title, Canino is hoping for a steadier version of herself.
“Ngayon yung preparation ko individually talaga, it's more on strengthening my mindset," she said.
"Yung kahit anong mangyayari, kahit anong situasyon man ibibigay sakin, I think ang pinaka-importante and magiging advantage ko I think is yung mindset coming to the game, every game, and coming to UAAP.”
UAAP Season 88 opens with a litmus test for Canino and the Lady Spikers as they face off against the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Valentine’s Day, February 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.