Juna May Gonzales starred for the San Sebastian Lady Stags in their Play-In victory over the JRU Lady Bombers on Friday, finishing with 23 points built on 22 attacks to go along with 12 digs and an ace.
Afterward, Gonzales told Rebanse in an exclusive interview how the Lady Stags got the big win that sent them to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Season 101 Women’s Volleyball Tournament opposite top-seeded Letran Lady Knights. The key, according to Gonzales?
Defense.
“’Yung defense po namin [and] yung communication po namin sa loob ng court na parang ini-improve pa po namin and napagtibayan pa po namin ‘yung reception and defense po,” she said.
Juna May Gonzales Is Just Playing Her Role
For Juna May Gonzales, personally, it was all about playing the role coach Roger Gorayeb gave her. And she’s certainly thankful that, despite her own lapses, she still has her teammates’ and coaches’ absolute trust.
“Sobrang happy kasi nakatulong ako sa team na nagampanan ko po ‘yung responsibilidad ko at nagtiwala din po ako sa mga teammates ko na lagi nandiyan po sa akin kahit may mga lapses pa ako or ano man,” Gonzales pointed out.
Indeed, Juna May Gonzales’ teammates had her back in this one, with Christina Marasigan and Katherine Santos each adding 15 for San Sebastian.
San Sebastian Looks Forward to Letran Challenge
Next up for the Lady Stags is an even greater challenge in unbeaten Letran. The 20-year-old open hitter knows it will be San Sebastian’s toughest task yet, but she’s unfazed and has vowed she and her team will work hard for every point.
“’Yung Letran po siyempre malakas sila kasi nga po 13-0. [Kailangan pa pong] paghandaan namin. Kahit on top po sila, pagtitibayan pa po namin ‘yung loob namin,” Gonzales said. “And pagtatrabahuhan po namin ‘yung every point po. Dapat laban lang lagi.”
Juna May Gonzales and the rest of the Lady Stags will have only 24 hours to prepare as they look to extend their campaign against Letran this Sunday.
