La Salle Lady Spiker Lilay Del Castillo came within a block of tying Celine Hernandez’s Season 70 record after tallying 8 blocks in La Salle’s 25-14, 21-25, 25-15, 25-17 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Despite the near-historic feat, the La Salle middle blocker remained grounded, emphasizing that her performance is simply part of the responsibility she carries as one of the team’s core players.
“Siguro po, ano, being proud is an understatement kasi ewan ko po, hindi po kasi ako masyadong nag-a-acknowledge sa mga ginagawa ko, e, 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. Hindi ako yung isa sa mga tao na dapat nagpapabuhat pa,” Del Castillo said.
“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. Parang 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. More of ganun talaga dapat. The standard is always there.”
Lilay Del Castillo, Lady Spikers Focused on Championship Goal
Helping the Lady Spikers improve to a perfect 4-0 record alongside leaders Angel Canino and Shevana Laput, Del Castillo stressed that the team remains focused, knowing the UAAP volleyball season is still long.
“It’s something na mababaon ko sa sarili ko kasi I’ve been looking for mga panghahawakan, kasi hindi naman kami nag-preseason,” she shared. “Yun yung, I think, biggest challenge namin: wala kaming panghahawakan na ‘nagawa ko na ’to’ o ‘kaya ko na ’to.’”
“Every time na nanghihina ako o di ko siya kayang gawin, ito yung something na panghahawakan ko, especially yung sa training namin. Sobrang hirap ng pinagdadaanan namin—yung trainings, yung ensayo namin kada game.”
Still, Lilay Del Castillo was quick to credit her teammates, noting that her 8-block performance was a product of collective effort and discipline within their defensive system.
“Feel ko hindi ko lang yun naman i-ke-credit sa akin,” said the 21-year-old blocker from Caloocan. “Credit din siya sa wing spikers namin kasi hindi naman ako makaka-block kung hindi sila nakakatapat nang maayos, kung hindi sila nakakabasa. I feel like para sa kanila din yung 8 blocks na yun. Hindi ko yun magagawa without their support, at siyempre yung tiwala nila na ibigay sa akin lahat ng bola.
“Sequence kasi siya from receive, from dig pass, from set ni Shan-Shan (Nunag), tapos yung trust binigay sa akin. It’s a team effort talaga. Grateful din ako kasi binigyan ako ng opportunity makapag-perform nang ganun. Grinab ko lang yun kasi pinaghihirapan namin sa training. Yung mga coaches matiyaga sa amin, so effort na lang din ipakita.”
