First-year spiker Shane Reterta shows veteran poise after being called upon to be a sparkplug for the DLSU Lady Spikers.
In their first game since the Holy Week break, the DLSU Lady Spikers made sure not to be the latest victim in the Adamson Lady Falcons’ giant-slaying run late into the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
With the Shaina Nitura-led Adamson threatening to pull off another upset, the Lady Spikers showed poise down the stretch, overcoming a 2-1 set deficit in a 25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-4 come-from-behind victory on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
While the veteran trio of Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido all came up huge in repelling the Lady Falcons, a huge x-factor in their thrilling victory was rookie outside hitter Shane Reterta.
Fielded as the second outside hitter for Sets 4 and 5, the Bethel Academy product gamely accepted the challenge to restore some winning energy into the Lady Spikers, with four of her nine markers alone coming in the fifth and deciding frame against Adamson.
Seniors Canino and Laput couldn’t be any prouder of their rookie teammate, whose maturity beyond her years kept them in the race for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
“Syempre, sobrang thankful din, kasi kahit senior kami, or kahit isa kami sa mga leader sa loob, nakita ko din talaga kay Shane ‘yung tapang sa loob ng court. Wala akong nakitang takot pagpasok niya,” Canino said of Reterta’s brilliance.
“Pagpasok niya, ngiti lang siya, which is sometimes ayun din ‘yung lacking sa amin kapag nara-rattle na kami, na we have to remind ourselves na ngumiti lang at gumalaw. And si Shane ‘yung nagbigay samin nung crucial point, talagang nakita namin na gusto niya rin talagang dalhin ‘yung team sa panalo, which is nagawa niya rin.”
Laput shared similar thoughts with her captain, describing Reterta as a “breath of fresh air” who is willing to step up whenever her number is called upon by her coaches and teammates.
“It’s a breath of fresh air really, like when she came in, we just knew that she’s got our back. And this generation that’s coming about, you know? Shane is one of those people who are coming into this new generation,” Laput said as she highlighted Reterta’s current status as a freshman.
“They’re just showing that whether you’re a rookie, same with Shane, whether you’re a rookie, whether you’re an ate, everyone can step up. Everyone can be a gamechanger.”
Now that she’s played her finest outing as a UAAP rookie, Reterta herself vowed to continue embracing the pressure that comes with representing a historically successful program like DLSU.
“Parang kailangan ko po muna i-handle ‘yung pressure sa sarili ko, and hangga’t makakaya ko po, hangga’t ano po ‘yung mailalabas ko para sa team, gagawin ko po.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.