MANILA – Ilongga volleybelle Keiara Almirante is set to suit up for Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights in the upcoming NCAA women’s volleyball season later this year.
The Mandurriao, Iloilo native said she is really for the challenge of helping the Lady Knights to have a better showing in the NCAA Season 97 after a subpar showing in the 96th.
“I am anxious and at the same time excited to join the Letran volleyball,” Almirante told Panay News on Monday. “This is a different level of competition but this is a challenge I accepted wholeheartedly.”
“In my personal capacity, I will do my best to help the team in the upcoming NCAA season. It will be challenging but I have full trust with my teammates that we will work hard and be more competitive,” she said.
Almirante is not new to playing in Manila after being recruited to First City Providential College at the age of 15 following her impressive years with the Ateneo de Iloilo.
The Ilongga volleybelle then moved to King’s Montessori School to finish her secondary years and where she also had her best years as a volleybelle despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Almirante shared that she was supposed to play for an UAAP school but a change of coaching personnel has prevented it but she has no regrets with Letran.
“I am happy here in Letran and the community can expect me to do my very best in every practice and every game, a player who is coachable with a defined set of skills both on offense and defense,” she said.
Almirante is also looking forward to join her fellow Ilonggas in the squad in incoming rookie middle blocker Trisha Dequilla and sophomore Lara Mae Silva.
“I am looking forward to team up with them. We Ilonggas have a competitive spirit that will surely be a big factor in any team’s success. Kag kahilidlaw man mag istorya sang Ilonggo,” she said./PN
