Ateneo de Manila University’s Zey Pacia in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — Ateneo de Manila University received a much-needed boost to end its losing streak in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
Coming into their Saturday clash against University of the East not only with a three-game skid but also with three injured players, the Blue Eagles survived a tough five-setter with the help of Zey Pacia.
The second-year player tallied her UAAP-best, a timely performance of 17 points (12 attacks, three aces, two blocks), on top of 14 digs and 10 receptions to allow ADMU to improve to 2-5 at the end of Round 1.
READ: Ateneo edges UE in 5-set thriller to end losing streak
“I’m super happy kasi grabe yung sacrifices naming lahat, tapos midterms pa namin,” said the second-year player after the game.
This was a welcomE sight for the Segio Veloso-coached squad which is now without Sobe Buena, Zel Tsunashima, and JLo Delos Santos, as the trio is out for the season due to their respective season-ending leg injuries.
The aforementioned setbacks, however, do not only mean that Ateneo will be competing throughout the rest of the year while being short-handed. It also gave Pacia flashbacks of her own injury which she suffered during the preseason.
“Every time na nangyayari yung mga injuries, hindi ako tumitingin kasi iba pa rin yung trauma,” the 20-year-old said, before detailing her right knee injury that came just before a preseason clash with Emilio Aguinaldo College in 2024.
“Nag land ako, natapilok, then na-dali po yung tuhod ko,” she shared. “Na chip-off ko yung patella ko, and na-dislocate. I got my surgery last November 2, and yun na po yung naging recovery.”
With the support of her teammates, coaches, and their team sports psychologist, Pacia said that did all she could to put herself in a position to come back stronger than before.
“Strong mind lang. Doon pumasok yung sinasabi ni Coach Sergio na strong mind lang palagi and siyempre, tiwala kay Lord, so todo dasal talaga ako,” added the Far Eastern University-Diliman high school product.
“Wala na eh, nangyari na yun eh,” she pointed out. “So I just needed to move forward lang palagi.”
And while Pacia acknowledged how Buena, Tsunashima, and Delos Santos’ respective injuries have reminded her of her past trauma, she is, instead, keen on carrying the fort for them and stepping in for their absence.
“100% lang palagi,” she emphasized. “Kung nandito sila, ganoon rin naman yung ipapakita nila. Kami yung may opportunity to play, so kami yung magbibigay ng ganung effort.”
“Kailangan lang i-work out yung lapses namin and yung little details. Yung little details, nagpa-pile up siya kaya lumalaki. Doon lang kami mags-start,” Pacia added.
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