MANILA – This is a dream come true for Negrense setter Maria Cassandra “Cassie” Carballo. She is set to join the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses women’s volleyball team for college.
According to the Silay City, Negros Occidental native, she was happy and excited to wear the yellow and gold colors of the Golden Tigresses come UAAP Season 85.
“Ever since I am still in Bacolod City, one of my dream schools for college is UST, not just for their volleyball program but also for academics. So, I am very happy to be here,” Carballo told Panay News on Tuesday.
“This is something that I have really worked hard on since my elementary and high school days so I feel blessed that it has paid off, but I know that I still need to work hard because it won’t be easy,” she added.
The 19-year-old Carballo was a former star setter of then head coach Michael Larroza at Living Stones International School in Bacolod City, where she became part of the 2018 National PRISAA champion squad and was named Best Setter.
Carballo was then recruited to the De La Salle Zobel Junior Lady Spikers by then coach Christina Salak and won a championship in WNCAA Season 49 (also named as Best Setter) and UAAP Season 81 juniors girls volleyball tournament.
After finishing her high school years with the Junior Lady Spikers, Carballo tried her luck with the Golden Tigresses during the summer and earned the nod of head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes.
“I am aware that the level of competition in college is different. I also need to double my effort, hard work and consistency in training because there are many of us setters here battling to be lined up,” Carballo said.
“I am still in an adjustment period here in UST because it’s a new environment, but my coaches and teammates are making it easier for me. I just trust their advice and feedback because I know it is for the betterment of my game,” she added.
Carballo is the second Western Visayas-based volleybelle on the Golden Tigresses lineup aside from second year middle blocker Elisha Juliene Apostol who is from Iloilo City./PN
