ILOILO City – Ilongga middle blocker Trisha Dequilla is set to conquer Manila after committing to play for the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights in NCAA women’s seniors volleyball.
According to the Iloilo City-native, she was delighted to be given an opportunity by the Lady Knights after previously playing in one-day leagues and local tournaments in Iloilo City.
“I am so happy because this is Manila, this is Letran, this is NCAA, not just in barangay or any local leagues,” the 5-foot-8 Dequilla told Panay News on Friday.
“I am extremely thankful to my coach Jigs (Gallo) because, if not for him, I won’t be able to reach this far in my volleyball career and I will not be discovered by Letran,” she added.
Dequilla shared that she was a late bloomer in volleyball as she only learned playing the sport during her eighth grade under the guidance of Gallo at Iloilo City Sports Academy.
“I started late in this sport. Coach Jigs just saw the potential in me because, he said, I got the height. He really worked hard in training me, for me to learn this sport,” Dequilla said.
Dequilla, who is from La Paz National High School, then captured numerous volleyball championships in local leagues in the region and was also named as Best Middle Blocker several times.
Dequilla admitted that it will be a tough task for her at Letran but she vowed to give her all to help the school to have a better showing in the upcoming NCAA competitions.
“I will really train hard, listen to my coaches there, give my 100 percent in practices and when I am inserted in the game,” said Dequilla, who will fellow Ilongga Lara Mae Silva at Letran.
“It also helped that I have a former teammate and fellow Ilongga there but I hope the other players there will accept me. I will do everything to help the team win games in NCAA,” she added./PN
