Things are turning up roses for the Letran Lady Knights’ Vanessa Sarie. Winning the NCAA women’s volleyball title is obviously the highlight of her season, but that’s not all she accomplished.
The rising star also established herself as a force in the collegiate volleyball ranks—so much so that she got an invite to be part of the Alas Pilipinas national pool along with Benilde Lady Blazers star and Season 101 MVP Zam Nolasco.
Sarie acknowledged the pressures that come with being invited to an esteemed group. But more than that, she’s just extremely thankful to get that invitation to join the ranks of the country’s best of the best.
“Siyempre po sobrang nakaka-pressure din pero iniisip ko na lang na napakasaya i-represent ’yung Philippines,” Sarie told Rebanse. “Siguro nandoon lang po ako sa step by step, nasa process pa din talaga ako kasi ’yun nga po, madami namang malalakas diyan pero na-invite nga po kaya thankful po ako.”
Vanessa Sarie Will Get to Play with Her Idols
Another thing Vanessa Sarie is looking forward to as part of the national pool is the chance to play with her volleyball idols.
“Una po si Bella Belen siyempre. Si Bella Belen talagang kayang dumala ng team. So, siguro if ever magkaka-team kami siya po talaga ina-idolize ko and [si] Angel Canino,” Sarie said.
Belen and Canino, of course, made their Alas Pilipinas debuts last year and will surely be pillars of the national team for years to come.
News of Sarie’s and Nolasco’s inclusion in Alas Pilipinas first broke out after Game 1 of the Benilde vs. Letran finals. Admittedly, the 20-year-old Lady Knight couldn’t quite turn her attention to that huge honor. After all, according to Sarie, Letran had a championship to win—and standing in its way was a most formidable foe in Nolasco and the Lady Blazers.
Vanessa Sarie and Zam Nolasco in the Same Squad?
Now, the newly minted NCAA women’s volleyball champion can start thinking about that national pool invite—along with the prospect of also playing with her NCAA rival Nolasco.
“Siguro si Ate Zam hindi naman po siya siguro mahirap maging ka-teammate. Puntusan din naman siya, so mataas talaga efficiency niya, so siguro magiging masaya po ako na maka-teammate niya,” Sarie said.
With the way she’s been playing, Nolasco, Belen, and the rest of the Alas Pilipinas pool might love playing with Vanessa Sarie, too.
