Arellano University head coach Obet Javier raved about Dodee Batindaan as the sophomore middle blocker returned from an injury to help Lady Chiefs in the NCAA Season 98 women’s volleyball tournament.
Batindaan was already in the lineup back in Season 97 but an ACL injury on her left knee hounded her performance.
With Batindaan seldom used, then team captain and middle blocker Carla Donato led the charge that season as the Lady Chiefs finished as runner-up behind champion De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Now, Batindaan is tipped to fill some of the void left behind by Donato, and she has done well so far.
“Sa dalawang games niya na nagdaan, maganda naman ‘yung performance niya,” said Javier.
“Last year nandon naman siya eh kaso may injury siya kaya medyo binaba ko muna. Pero ngayon, nakita ko na talagang gustong-gusto na niya maglaro.”
“Tumaas na ‘yung mental aspect niya.”
("In her two past two games, she's been performing well... Last year, she was already there, but she had an injury so I we didn't use her much. But now, I can see how much she wants to play... Her mental aspect has improved.")
Batindaan has been proving her worth, finishing with 11 points built on four blocks as Arellano carved out a 25-11, 25-27, 25-7, 25-12 win over San Beda University.
She also had eight points in Arellano’s 25-18, 25-20, 25-23 opening day win over Jose Rizal University last Saturday.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
