Former, present Lady Archers come together for a cause

LA SALLE's bemedalled women's volleyball team on Sunday night virtually reunited for Kada-Uno Lasalyano, a livestream fundraiser for more than 1,000 families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lady Spikers - both former and current - came together online not only for a cause but also reminisce their fond UAAP memories.

During the question and answer session, middle hitter Aduke Ogunsanya has not yet moved on after the cancellation of UAAP Season 82, where La Salle played only one match - a four-set romp over defending champion Ateneo last March 7.

"Sobrang nalungkot kami na di natuloy. Sobrang pinaghandaan namin yung season na to na dugo, pawis, tsaka luha. Hardwork talaga. Nakakaiyak talaga," said Ogunsanya, one of the veterans of the rookie-laden Lady Spikers roster in the aborted season.

"Ako naman, mixed emotions pero may reason talaga bakit nangyari yun. Walang katapusang one more year," said the team's second libero CJ Saga.

La Salle alums had got Ogunsanya and Saga's back.

Libero Dawn Macandili, who was the Season 80 Finals MVP, had an advice to the current Lady Spikers.

"Lahat ng tao may masasabi. Maku-kumpara kayo sa previous teams ng La Salle. Pero magfocus kayo sa kung ano meron sa team ninyo. Huwag kayo maghahanap ng iba na wala naman. Nasa inyo lahat ng answers, you just have to find it for yourselves," said Macandili.

Ara Galang, who had a triumphant comeback from a career-threatening ACL injury and was one of the key players in the Lady Spikers' return to the throne in 2016, remains upbeat that her alma mater will make it back on top.

After completing a three-peat, La Salle missed the Finals last year and was determined to make back from where it usually belong until the coronavirus situation came.

"Excited ako sa Season 82 kasi nakikita natin sa triaining yung pag-improve nila. Sayang kasi di nila ma-showcase pero alam kong dadating yung time na mashare nila talent nila. Keep working hard, mag-tiwala sa sarili at mag-tiwala sa kasama ninyo," said Galang.

After the event, which also featured performances from Gary Valenciano, Barbie Almabis and Jett Pangan, De La Salle Philippines has raised P4,009,241.59 for over 1,000 families.