UAAP: Lilay Del Castillo beams with pride in bigger impact for La Salle vs Ateneo

Lilay Del Castillo has put any thoughts of hiding behind her seniors away, now ready to assure a bigger role for the DLSU Lady Spikers in UAAP Season 88.

Already in her third year for the Taft-based squad, Del Castillo is slowly but surely come out of her shell.

Her latest outing for the Lady Spikers was quite the revelation, living up to La Salle’s team reputation by recording eight blocks.

That’s the most rejections by a Lady Spiker since Celine Hernandez in 2007, which Del Castillo turned to 18 total points in their win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday.

[RELATED: UAAP: Del Castillo records 8 blocks as La Salle beats Ateneo for 17th straight time]

"Being proud is an understatement kasi ewan ko po, hindi po kasi ako masyadong ma-acknowledge sa mga ginagawa ko eh kasi ang lagi kong iniisip dapat lang, dapat ganun yung performance ko. Dapat ganun yung contribution ko kasi part na ako ng core ng team,” said Del Castillo after the match.

"Hindi ako yung isa sa mga tao na dapat nagpapabuhat pa. I believe ako na yung part sa team na kaya bumuhat, so parang ginawa akong ganun ng mga coaches, trinain ako ng ganun ng mga ates."

Del Castillo's breakout game for Season 88 came at an opportune time, as the Lady Spikers missed team captain Shevana Laput for a second straight game due to illness.

From the leadership of Angel Canino to the offense of Del Castillo and rookie Mikee Santos, the Lady Spikers have rallied together to make up for Laput’s absence.

[RELATED: UAAP: La Salle makes do without Laput again as Canino, Del Castillo take over vs Ateneo]

"This time around ito na yung floor ko, ito na yung floor ko makatulong sa kanila. Kung gaano man kalaki yung goal namin. Ako I believe na makakatulong din [ako]. More of ganun talaga dapat [yung mindset]. The standard is always there,” Del Castillo said.

Stepping stone

While Del Castillo's 8-block performance against the Blue Eagles is something to behold on its own, she still eager for more for the rest of the season.

"It’s something na mababaon ko po sa sarili ko kasi I’ve been looking for, alam mo yun, [yung] mapanghahawakan since hindi nga kami nakapag preseason. Yun yung I think biggest challenge namin wala kaming panghahawakan na: ‘Ah nagawa ko na to, kaya ko na to,’” Del Castillo said.

"Everytime na nanghihina ako or I feel like na di ko siya kayang gawin eto yung something na panghahawakan ko, especially sa training din po namin kasi sobrang hirap ng pinagdadaanan namin yung ensayo namin, yung preparation namin kada game,” she continued.

Del Castillo hopes to replicate her performance when the Lady Spikers return to action on Saturday, March 7, against the UE Lady Warriors at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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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.