UE’s Casiey Dongallo. Photo from UAAP Media.
MANILA — After Far Eastern University defeated University of Santo Tomas last April 13 in a rare UAAP women’s volleyball game day at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the league’s Season 86 Final 4 was completed.
This meant that the other schools’ hopes of entering the postseason were crushed, and among those institutions whose hearts were broken during that night were from the University of the East.
But despite their early exit from contention in Season 86, the story is only beginning for Casiey Dongallo and the Lady Warriors.
The Recto-based hitters have made progress this year — with UE already matching their number of wins from Seasons 84 and 85 — and their prized rookie said that despite being eliminated, she was still grateful for finally having been able to step foot in the UAAP's taraflex.
"Since eto nga yung first UAAP ko, masaya naman and nakaka enjoy. Yung mga teams at players na dini-dream ko lang maka laro before, ngayon nakaka laro ko na," the 5-foot-7 young star told ABS-CBN News on Sunday after their defeat against UST at the Araneta Coliseum.
"Although nakakalungkot kasi patapos na yung Season 86 at may mga hindi kami nagawa na dapat sana nagawa namin," she added.
Dongallo made UE one of the must-watch teams in Season 86.
READ: UE’s super rookie Dongallo downplays historic UAAP debut
The 18-year-old started the year with a 27-point, eight-dig performance for the Lady Warriors in a victory over Ateneo de Manila University last February, and she continued with her stellar outings and even put up a 30-point outing against Far Eastern University, though it came in a loss.
READ: Petallo stars as FEU spoils Dongallo’s historic game with UE
That was pretty much how the team of head coach Jerry Yee and deputy Dr. Obet Vital’s year went by in Season 86. Dongallo turned heads with her averages of 20.2 points, 7.6, digs, 6.0 receptions per game, but they only sit at 2-11 in the standings.
However, the Cebuana is opting to treat this year as a learning curve for her and the young Lady Warriors.
"Yung UE, isa sa mga challenge ko is hindi ko dapat sukuan kahit ano man 'yung nangyari this season," she said.
UE’s Casiey Dongallo. Photo from UAAP Media."[Hindi] ko susukuan yung UE, I still have to push my teammates, kung sino man yung matitira and kung sino man yung dadating para next season, iba naman yung magiging outcome."
For Dongallo — who admitted that she did not play volleyball in her younger years in Catmon — perseverance has always been her mantra.
"Actually po, wala po ako talagang balak mag volleyball. As in wala po talaga akong ibang sports bukod sa volleyball. Tapos nung elementary ako, aral lang ako," she revealed.
"Inaya lang ako ng friend ko na mag try out, try daw kami mag volleyball. Nakuha ako ni coach Vilma Veloso. Grade 5 nag start ako, until Grade 6. Nung Grade 5 ako sila ate Khy Cepada, ate Abe Pono, ate Vangie Alinsug, ate Jessa Dorog, sila po yung mga seniors ko that time," Dongallo added, while also sharing her history with the aforementioned quartet who now are also playing in the UAAP and the NCAA.
"Nag palaro po sila kasama ako pero second six po ako, tagapulot ng bola," she quipped. "Grade 6 ko, nag first six ako, then na recruit ako ni Doc Obet sa Palarong Pambansa sa Antique."
It was also in the 2017 edition of the Palaro that she met some of the players who would turn out to be her teammates in California Academy and in UE.
"Si Kizzie Madriaga, quarterfinals nakalamin namin siya, si Jelai Gajero, Bicol siya, nakalaban namin sila. Dun po ako ni-recruit ni Doc. Pero hindi ko po alam kung bakit ako ni-recruit kasi as in, ang liit ko po talaga. Yung height ko is 4'11 lang tapos middle blocker pa ako noon," she explained.
Young Casiey Dongallo (middle) with California Academy’s ‘CAL Babies’. Photo from Cal Precision Sports/caleducation.org
"Yung meron lang ako is yung talon," the open spiker noted.
But while Casiey caught the attention of Dr. Vital, there were still hurdles that needed to be overcome.
"Ni-recruit ako ni Doc, tinawagan niya yung mom ko. Pero nung una, yung mommy ko ayaw. Ayaw niya akong pumunta ng Manila kasi nga only child," she bared.
"Ako, gustong gusto ko. I don't know why kasi knowing CAL, hindi naman siya known before eh. So sabi ni Mama: 'Wag ka nang pumunta, bata ka pa,' kasi 11 years old pa lang ako nung pumunta ako ng CAL."
"Sabi ko gusto ko talaga, tapos umabot ako sa point na hindi kami nag usap ng one week kasi ayaw niya talaga eh."
"Ginawa ko, nag hanap ako ng mga kakampi ko para pumayag yung mother ko na pumunta ako ng Manila," Casiey added, pertaining to her aunts who helped her convince her mother.
"Tapos ayon, pumayag naman. Grade 7 to Grade 12, na kay Doc Obet po ako," she added.
Young Casiey Dongallo (middle) with California Academy’s ‘CAL Babies’. Photo from Cal Precision Sports/caleducation.org
Dongallo, alongside Dr. Vital, Madriaga, Gajero, and the rest of California Academy's 'CAL Babies' made some noise during their years of stay in the Antipolo-based school, with their team even winning the 2022 PNVF Champions League championship.
This made CAL's players well-sought by collegiate teams in the country, but Casiey, Doc Obet, and the squad ultimately opted to join UE despite being one of the lower-seeded teams in the UAAP.
"Nung papunta na ako ng college, sa lahat ng schools na cumontact kay Doc, yung UE lang po yung hindi nag reach out," she revealed.
READ: Lady Warriors boost roster as California Academy standouts commit to UE
"Yung ginawa naman ni Doc, sabi niya na let's try to contact UE, na kami na yung magre-reach out sa UE. Knowing na yung ranking ng UE before is mababa talaga, so yung motivation ko is I want to go to a team na parang underdog, and I want to help them move up," she explained of her mindset.
"As a player, gusto ko pumunta sa team na maglalaro ako. Hindi naman madali, pero pag pumunta ako sa ibang schools ang lalakas na nila eh, tapos ang tatangkad pa," Dongallo continued.
And while there have been struggles in her first year as a Lady Warrior, Casiey -- much like how she did before -- is instead using it as motivation to fulfill her dreams.
UE’s Casiey Dongallo. Photo from UAAP Media.
"Nung high school ako, successful yung program namin. So going to UE po, hindi siya naging ganoon kadali," said Dongallo, who previously received a call-up to be a part of the pool of the national team.
"Nasa baba kami, so isa siyang battle na you have to fight. Hindi mo siya dapat sukuan agad, kasi hindi naman agad makukuha yung panalo eh, process siya."
READ: Dongallo vows to stay with UE amid transfer rumors
After all, this mindset is the same one that she applied when her mother initially disapproved her choice to leave for Manila.
"Siyempre proud siya sa'kin, kasi what if hindi niya ako pinayagan? So andoon lang ako sa Cebu, 'di ba?" Dongallo said of her mother.
"Nakaka proud din, kasi yung bata na ako before, 'yung Casiey na maliit, nagpu-push na umalis ng Cebu at pumunta ng Manila for her future, tapos ngayon, unti-unti niya nang 'yung nararating."
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