After breakout rookie year, Vanessa Sarie sets sights on redemption bid with Letran
NCAA
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News
Vanessa Sarie had an explosive entrance into the NCAA, shattering records and steering Colegio de San Juan de Letran to another finals trip in the NCAA — all in her rookie year.
The 19-year-old outside spiker, though, isn't anywhere near satisfied.
Sarie said her breakout rookie year was only the beginning as she's now eager to get back to work and help the Lady Knights quench a long-standing drought, one that includes back-to-back finals heartbreaks in Season 99 and the recently-concluded Season 100 both against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
"Sobrang memorable ko sa season ko ngayon kasi bumalik kami sa finals and nando'n pa rin 'yung regret namin, sayang kasi may goal kami this season na championship tapos hindi namin nakuha," Sarie told GMA News Online.
"Napanghinaan lang ng loob sa dulo pero babalik kami next season na mas malakas at mas experienced."
Sarie herself had a season to remember, emerging as the top-scoring player in the women's division with an impressive 310 points highlighted by a career-high 37-pout outburst less than a month ago against Arellano University.
The Camarines Sur pride was also the third-best spiker which led her to bagging the second Best Outside Spiker, Freshman of the Year, and Rookie of the Year honors.
Sarie admitted that while her individual performance stood out, it means little without a championship to show for it.
And the good news for the Lady Knights is that they'll return in Season 101 with valuable finals experience and a solid core intact with only middle blocker Royce Dela Cruz leaving the team.
"Oo naman po satisfied po ako pero nando'n pa rin 'yung eagerness ko na mag-improve pa next season nando'n," she added.
"Lahat naman kami eager na makuha 'yung championship next season. Nando'n po kami lahat sa gustong mag-improve pero step by step lang kami. Magre-ready muna kami sa mga pre-season namin na laro. Mas handa na kami next season."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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