It may not have been the ending they wanted for the season but Mapua University's Freighanne Garcia gave the Lady Cardinals something positive to build on.
The Intramuros-based crew fell to Arellano University, 27-25, 22-25, 31-29, 20-25, 15-9, in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball battle for bronze to finish fourth in the tournament, but Garcia set a new league record as she erupted for 38 points.
Garcia's 38 points eclipsed the previous record registered by Colegio de San Juan de Letran's Vanessa Sarie, who scored 37 points during the Lady Knights' second round match also against Arellano.
The second-year outside hitter's record-breaking performance was built on 37 attacks and one block.
Apparently, Garcia was not aware about her performance last Sunday.
"Hindi ko in-expect sobra," Garcia told GMA News Online. "Naglaro lang ako nang sobrang saya talaga, ang gaan lang ng feeling."
"Gusto ko talaga manalo pero we fell short. Ganun talaga, may next season pa para bumawi."
[I really didn't expect it. I just played with joy and the feeling was so light... I really wanted to win but we fell short. But that's the way it goes, we have next season to bounce back.]
While Garcia credits her teammates for her explosive performance, the spiker from Batangas said they will just do better next season.
"Siguro mas pagbutihan pa namin next season. No expectations pero we'll play well and mas magsama-sama pa kami," she added.
[I guess we just have to do better next season. No expectations, but we'll play well and we'll come together.]
Before playing for Mapua, Garcia was with the University of the East high school before the pandemic hit. She started training for volleyball in De La Salle Lipa before moving to Manila.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
