Birthday girl Sheena Toring throws a block party in NU win
NU Lady Bulldogs’ Sheena Toring during the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Final Four game against FEU Lady Tamaraws. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Sheena Toring hosted a block party on her 23rd birthday to bring back National University to the UAAP women’s volleyball finals for the third straight season.
On her special day, Toring unleashed her best game of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament with 13 points highlighted by a game-high six blocks to eliminate Far Eastern University, 25-13, 27-25, 25-15, on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I’m happy naman kasi gusto ko talaga bumawi. Since nung last game, pangit ng performance namin. Last game, ginawa ko talagang motivation yun,” said Toring, who bounced back from her six-point performance when they lost their twice-to-beat advantage in their straight-set loss to FEU last Saturday.
READ: NU Lady Bulldogs oust FEU, face UST in UAAP volleyball Finals
“Hindi ako papayag na basta-basta lang kaming matatalo.”
The Season 84 2nd Best middle blocker admitted she also wanted to play well in front of former NU star and MVP Jaja Santiago, who watched and supported the Lady Bulldogs with her husband, Taka Minowa.
“Actually, hindi ako alam na nandun siya. Nagulat na lang ako na nandoon siya sa patron, tapos sabi ko oh my god andiyan si Ate Jaja, dapat maayos yung laro ko. Andun yung pressure pero inspired pa rin na maglaro,” Toring said.
Toring is aware that she was a missing piece for NU in the elimination round, hoping to deliver on their road to title redemption in the finals.
READ: UAAP volleyball: With thesis defended, Sheena Toring returns to give NU a boost
“Nakikita ko na wala yung laro ko, wala yung performance ko, parang hindi ako. Ginawa ko talagang motivation na kailangan kong bumalik kasi kailangan ako ng team,” she said. “I’m thankful na andun yung mga teammates ko at coaches na nag-support talaga sakin. Finally, umabot naman ng championship. Eto na gawin na namin lahat.”
In their third straight Finals, the Lady Bulldogs, pursuing their second championship in three years, battle the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses in a best-of-three title series starting on Saturday at the Big Dome.
“For sure, next championship series, magpe-prepare talaga kami nang maayos. At sana sa iba sa team namin, mag-improve pa kami at prepared dapat kami sa championship,” Toring said
