Missing piece? Rookie Eshana Nunag has La Salle offense going in UAAP Season 88

After losing last year's Finals, the DLSU Lady Spikers need an additional piece to the puzzle for their UAAP Season 88 title bid.

They might’ve found the one in rookie setter Eshana Nunag.

Since winning the title in UAAP Season 85, the Lady Spikers have struggled to put things together in the playoffs even with the presence of super scorers in Angel Canino and Shevana Laput.

But two games into Season 88, Nunag has presented herself as an ace playmaker, powering the La Salle offense to huge victories against fellow Final Four contenders.

All things considered, Nunag certainly has the tools to also tow La Salle back in the title hunt.

For assistant coach Noel Orcullo, the young setter has shown tremendous promise so far in UAAP Season 88.

“Sa ngayon talagang medyo nakikita naman namin yung steadiness niya since the opening game nakita naman namin na nakakasabay sa mga setters na beterano,” Orcullo said after Nunag tossed 16 excellent sets in the win over UST.

“I hope magtuloy-tuloy pa and hopefully ito na yung hinahanap namin na pinakastable na setter going this tournament.”

[RELATED: UAAP: DLSU Lady Spikers assert dominance in sweep of UST Golden Tigresses]

Still, being a rookie means that Nunag still has a long way to go.

However, the Lady Spikers are choosing to practice patience with their talented recruit.

“Actually, si Eshana naman di na bago sa amin eh. Since senior high school, nagte-training niya siya sa amin. So maaga namin siyang na-incorporate sa sistema ni Coach Ramil. So ano lang talaga, kailangan lang ma-expose para

masanay lang talaga sa tao, sa gantong labanan,” said Orcullo. 

“Yung adjustment, nandon na yan since senior high, nakapag-adjust na siya,” he continued.

Zeroed in

At the end of the day, being the setter for the DLSU Lady Spikers is quite the tall task.

With huge expectations for La Salle as a UAAP women's volleyball program, Nunag is simply focusing on what matters.

[RELATED: Eshana Nunag shines as La Salle's starting setter in UAAP Season 88]

“Siguro din po nasa mindset lang po na parang training lang, focus lang sa mga kasama, focus lang po sa coaches and wag masyadong paano sa crowd,” Nunag said. 

“Isipin lang po talaga sino po yung mga mahahalaga such as yung mga tulong po ng coaches and yung supporta po ng ates po sa loob,” she continued.

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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.