THE San Beda Red Lions and Red Cubs have long dominated the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the college and high school basketball. Their counterparts in women’s volleyball hope to likewise step up as the Lady Red Spikers continue their intensive preparations for the coming season.
The Lady Red Spikers are aiming to establish a milestone by reaching the NCAA Final Four for the first time in school history.
Members of the starting unit, which includes outside hitter and star player Cesca Racraquin, middler blocker Satrriani Espiritu, outside hitter Nieza Viray, opposite hitter Ella Viray, middle blocker Criselle Amador, libero Daryl Racraquin, setter Rebecca Cuevas and Coach Mesio Gavino, are one in saying that they hope to fulfill the hopes of the San Beda community to advance to the Final Four and beyond this coming NCAA season.
The veteran Racraquin said this year’s team has the chemistry to do really well.
“We’re coming back this season stronger than ever. Our chemistry has never been better. There is camaraderie and tight bonds of friendship. Hopefully it’s enough to propel us to the Final Four,” she said.
Espiritu believes that this year’s SBC women’s volleyball team is the best-prepared ever.
“We hope to fulfill the wish and aspiration of the San Beda community that we advance to the Final Four. We have really prepared hard. We joined other tournaments so that we could gain more experience in preparation for our major league which is the NCAA. We are prepared and we are confident,” said Espiritu.
Nieza, one half of the Viray twins, said they will give their all even as they aspire to crack the Final Four for the first time ever.
“We will do our best. We don’t want to expect too much. We will just play hard. We will just show our best,” she said.
“We will do everything in order to win. We will support our teammates. We will help each other out inside the court,” echoed twin sister Ella.
The rest of the Lady Red Spikers include Iris George Domingo, Carmina Rebolledo, Abigail Dumpit, Pham Garcia, Nicole Laguna, Noheli Cerdeña, Daisy Manuel, Joycee Baluarte, Deborah Zamudio and China Tannagan. They are led by coach Messio Gavino.
The Lady Red Spikers benefitted from exposure in the past Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference where they were helped by veteran Wenneth Eulalio who helped Laoag win the 10th edition of the Shakey’s Reinforced Conference.
“Participation in the Shakey’s V-League gave us good exposure. The participating teams were among the best in the country. The competition is keener. It served as our foundation for the coming NCAA season,” said coach Gavino who added that he expects every one of his players to step up and contribute.
“I told all my players that they need to deliver. We can’t rely on just one or two players to step up. I expect my veterans to lead the way. Then the rookies and the newcomers will follow their lead. We want to give back to the school which has given us so many privileges.”
The stint in the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference has given the Lady Red Spikers invaluable experience and confidence which will no doubt serve them in good stead in their quest to make the Final Four and beyond this coming NCAA season.