2 weeks Ago
Joan Doguna was visibly tired as Lyceum of the Philippines University was singing its school hymn after winning against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. After all, it was Doguna who led the Lady Pirates to a five-set victory in a match which lasted for around two and a half hours . Doguna posted a career-high 27 points from 23 attacks, three aces, and a block as the Intramuros-based squad tried to revive its hopes in the NCAA Season 100 volleyball tournament.
Apparently, Doguna was playing through back spasms during the entire match. "Simula pa first set, parang nakakaramdam siya ng back spasm [hanggang] fifth set. Kaya sobrang bilib ko sa mga bata, even Joan, [may] 27 points.
Nagsa-suffer ng back spasm simula first set hanggang fifth set," LPU head coach Cromwell Garcia said. "Nung una kasi, sumakit lang lower back ko hanggang sa patagal nang patagal, nangalay na 'yung sa baywang ko hanggang nangangatog na 'yung lower [back] ko," Doguna told GMA News Online, who said that it depends on the team's decision if she will play on Friday against Jose Rizal University. From sitting out the first few games of the season , Doguna eventually helped stabilize the Lady Pirates' run as they claimed their third straight win.
But despite the career-high performance, Doguna said they still need to work on some lapses. "Masaya po pero may lapses pa rin po ako na kailangan kong pagtrabahuhan. Masaya rin po ako sa kinalabasan namin ng teammates ko kasi lahat nag-ambag.
'Yun din ang nilo-look forward na mag-ambag kami as a team." Garcia, meanwhile, said he still trusts his players, especially now as they returned on track to their Final Four bid as they improved to 4-6. "Actually, sabi ko nga sa mga bata, anything that we train ay nasa kanila na mismo kung paano nila gagamitin.
Siguro, i-improve pa namin dito 'yung mismong tapang ng buong team. Kumbaga, we fell short in the past season, sabi ko ito, I think they can do it naman," said Garcia. —GMA Integrated News.
