It was her first time to step on the sands for the NCAA Season 99 beach volleyball tournament, but Colegio de San Juan de Letran rookie Gia Maquilang proved why she is one of the Lady Knights' prized recruits.
As the Intramuros-based squad completed a sweep of the tourney in Subic en route to their title defense, Gia stood out and was named as the Freshman of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Most Valuable Player.
"Parang nagulat po ako kasi for sure di ko po 'to makukuha kung wala ang ka-partner ko," the 19-year old Gia said about her individual awards while referring to Lara Mae Silva, her partner on the sands.
"Siya po 'yung nag-champion last year so 'yung pressure ko po, parang dapat iangat ko po 'yung sarili ko since baguhan po ako. It's a good thing na nadala ako ni Ate Lara."
"For sure, 'di ko po to deserve, kun'di sa buong team po namin ito," she added.
[I was shocked because for sure, I wouldn't be able to win this without my partner... She was the champion last year so the pressure was on me to raise my game since I was new. It's a good thing I was brought here by Ate Lara... For sure, I don't deserve this, this belongs to our whole team.]
A product of University of Bohol, Gia and her sister Jogi said they also tried out in the University of Santo Tomas before heading to Letran last June.
"Thankful po ako sa lahat ng nagsuporta and nagtiwala sa akin na kaya ko raw po ito," a grateful Gia said.
[I'm thankful for all of those who supported and trusted me, that I was capable of doing this.]
Silva, meanwhile, said she is proud of her new teammate and she is hardly surprised by what Gia showed on the sands.
"Sobrang proud ako sa kanya as a baguhan po. Alam ko pong makukuha niya. Lagi ko sinasabi sa kanya na kaya mo 'yan," she said.
[I'm so proud of her, especially as she's a rookie. I knew she would get it. I always told her that she could do it.]
Asked about her first impression on Gia, Silva compared her to volleyball star Sisi Rondina and her own former Letran teammate, Cha Cuñada.
"Sobrang galing niya po sa indoor [volleyball] para po siyang si Sisi Rondina. Promise po. Di po ako nagjo-joke," Silva said, while Gia was laughing on the side.
"Tapos same po sila ni Ate Cha na ang taas ng reach, ang taas tumalon kaya di po kami nagkakalayo sa communication namin."
[She is so good at indoor volleyball, she's like Sisi Rondina. I promise. I'm not joking... And she is like Ate Cha, her reach is so high, she jumps high, that's why we don't havr a problem with communication.]
Jogi, meanwhile, was just proud of what her older sister has achieved.
"So proud po, lumalaki po ako siya po ang nilo-look up ko. Ang galing niya po kasi. Very supportive din po siya. Siya rin po siguro ang dahilan bakit ako nandito rin."
[I'm so proud. I grew up looking up to her. She is so good and very supportive. She is the reason I'm here.]
Gia is expected to suit up for Letran's campaign in the NCAA Season 99 women's indoor volleyball tournament.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
