Key losses: Cha Cuñada, Shereena Urmeneta
Key holdovers: Judiel Nitura, Julienne Castro, Lara Mae Silva
Season 98 record: 5-4
Colegio de San Juan de Letran is set to usher in a new era come the NCAA Season 99 women's volleyball tournament with decorated tactician Oliver Almadro calling the shots for the Lady Knights.
Almadro, who has numerous titles in the collegiate scene, was given the reins in August 2023 and his arrival could be just what Letran needs in its bid to revive what was once a promising volleyball program.
"Nu’ng dumating si Coach O sa amin, magulo pa kami tignan kasi nakita niya ‘yung sistema na parang hindi gano’n pa kaayos," Judiel Nitura, one of the holdovers from the previous season, told GMA News Online.
"Gumawa siya ng sistema para iayos kami tapos ‘yung patience niya sa amin sobrang haba hanggang sa nakukuha na namin ‘yung sistema niya paunti-unti."
[When Coach O arrived, we were still disorganized and he saw the system was not yet in place... He created a system to organize us and he has had a lot of patience with us until we were able to slowly get they system.]
Almadro, though, doesn't have to start entirely from scratch in rebuilding the program.
The Lady Knights are coming off a Season 98 run that saw them fall just short of a Final Four appearance with a 5-4 card, tying former three-time champion Arellano University at fifth place.
Despite the exits of former stars in Cha Cuñada and Shereena Urmeneta, the Muralla crew will be able to bring back the likes of rising stars Nitura, Julienne Castro, Lea Tapang, and Jade Isar, who are expected to fill the voids left by their seniors.
Letran will also be bolstered by sophomore libero Lara Mae Silva and her sands teammate in highly-touted rookie Gia Maquilang, who steered the school to the Season 99 women's beach volleyball crown last January.
Completing the promising roster are Keiara Almirante, CK Calixto, Royce Dela Cruz, Natalie Estreller, Angeilque Ledesma, Jogi Maquilang, Nizelle Martin, Daisy Melendres, Andre Relucio, and Aziejay Yap.
Letran is hoping this youthful core and Almadro's coaching brilliance will help the school end years-long Final Four drought and a 25-year title chase.
The last time Letran won a championship was in 1999 while the last time it reached the Final Four stage was 12 years ago, when they faced University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in Season 88 finals with the Lady ALTAs capturing the first title to its three-peat feat.
But the Lady Knights know the road won't be easy.
"Gagawin namin ‘yung lahat para makatungtong kami sa Final 4 kasi hindi kami basta nag-train para sa wala. Laging sinasabi ni Coach O na kailangan ayusin lahat nang may purpose," added Nitura.
[We're doing all we can to get back to the Final 4 because we didn't just train for nothing. Coach O tells us we need to do it with purpose.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
