Despite not making a finals appearance in the NCAA Season 101 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, libero Joanna Lozano of the Perpetual Help Lady Altas is still thankful that the team was able to end their two-year Final Four drought.
Last Wednesday, the Lady Altas swept the San Beda Lady Red Spikers in straight sets to claim the bronze medal in Season 101—with Cy Almeniana and Jem Menor delivering the points, and Lozano orchestrating the defense with 21 digs and 12 successful receptions.
“Ayun nga, hindi kami nakapasok sa finals pero thankful pa rin kami kasi two years na kaming wala sa Final Four, tas ngayon pang third na kami, isang malaking achievement ’yun sa amin,” Lozano said in an exclusive postmatch interview with Rebanse.
Joanna Lozano Comes of Age as Libero
Coming into Perpetual, the 22-year-old admitted that playing libero was new to her and that she had to learn quite a lot to familiarize herself with the position.
“Coming [in] talaga sa Perpetual, hindi talaga ako libero, so sa four [playing] years ko na ’yun trinabaho ko talaga kung paano ’yung laruan ng libero,” she said. “So ’yung improvement ko po siguro sa ngayon, okay siya, pero kaya ko pang magbigay…kaya ko pang i-improve pa.”
Aiming Higher for Season 102
Moreover, Joanna Lozano all but committed to coming back for Season 102, noting that one of her goals for next year is for the team to win more games and improve upon its bronze-medal finish.
“Siyempre po ’yung mga wins namin ngayon, dadalhin po namin siya sa Season 102, and then lahat po ng mali po namin, mga lapses po namin, aayusin din po namin,” Lozano further told Rebanse.
In fairness to Lozano and the Lady Altas, they did win a lot this season. They claimed the No. 1 seed in Group A by going 11-2 in the eliminations to earn a win-once edge in the quarters, where they were pushed to a decider by the EAC Lady Generals. However, Perpetual ran into the five-peat-seeking Benilde Lady Blazers, who ousted the Lady Altas in a two-game sweep.
It wasn’t the ending Joanna Lozano and her teammates were hoping for. But with the core of Lozano, Almeniana, and Menor, the future looks bright for Perpetual.
