De La Salle University star spiker Angel Canino does not regret sitting out the Lady Spikers' successful campaign in the Shakey's Super League National Invitationals.
In fact, she was proud of what her teammates have accomplished sans key players that brought La Salle to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines throne.
Reduced to a mere spectator cheering on the sidelines, the power-hitting sophomore winger expressed her admiration for the Lady Spikers' heart coming back from a 0-1 deficit in the best-of-three finals series to beat upset-conscious Adamson
University.
"I'm happy for them. For me, if our coach tells me that I need to rest, I'll take a rest and I respect that," the UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player said.
"I'm not thinking that I should've been there because it's their time to shine and I'm happy for them."
Canino witnessed La Salle's dominating sweep of the Lady Falcons in Game 3 last Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre to complete a come-from-behind series victory.
It was the Lady Spikers' first league crown after finishing runner-up to National University in the SSL Collegiate Preseason Championship last year in Canino's first tournament for La Salle.
"First of all, I'm very proud of them because even after losing the first game, they kept hold of their pride (as champions) and were able to show how they really play," Canino said.
Second-year spiker Shevana Laput stepped up big time to provide the numbers on offense on her way to winning the MVP and Best Opposite Spiker awards.
Also making their presence felt in La Salle's title run were Alleiah Malaluan, who got the 1st Best Open Spiker, and Best Middle Blocker winners Thea Gagate and Amie Provido.
"I'm just proud that they did it without looking for others that are not there. They depended on each other and believed in themselves. That's how they built their confidence," she said of the team that saw the departure of Jolina dela Cruz
and Mars Alba after exhausting their playing eligibility as well as the decision of Fifi Sharma and Justine Jazareno to turn pro.
"If they have that self-confidence, it will work not just for themselves individually but also for the team. And I'm proud because they were able to bring that out."
But Canino underscored the importance of not getting content with winning a preseason crown as the biggest challenge lies ahead: Defending the UAAP title.
"We know that this Shakey's (tournament) is a preparation for us to address our mistakes and lapses and identify the things that we need to improve on heading into the UAAP," she said.
"This is a lesson for us to wake up and work on our mistakes individually and as a team."