If you’re watching from the bleachers during the NCAA Season 99 beach volleyball competition in Subic, Zambales, you would often hear someone barking instructions like, “day, day, day,” or “day sa tunga”.

“Day,” a short term for the Bisaya word “Inday,” is used to refer to a young girl.

On the volleyball court, this young girl is no other than Colegio de San Juan de Letran team captain Lara Mae Silva who hails from La Paz, Iloilo. This is also Gia Maquilang, along with sister Jogi Maquilang, from Batuan, Bohol.

“At first, parang may teamwork po kasi kami lalong-lalo na kapag training, dapat mag bisaya or ilonggo, so yun yung biggest factor namin yung sa training pa lang, parang nagsasalita na kami,” Gia shared with GMA Regional TV News.

The language barrier among the trio didn’t become a problem. In fact, it resulted to a championship that secured Letran’s back-to-back title in the women’s division in NCAA Season 99 beach volleyball.

“Na inchindihan ko siya pero gamay lang, hambal ni coach nga tudluan ya man ko magbisaya kag tudluan ya man ko mag ilonggo,” Silva said.

Aside from the championship, Gia capped off her beach volleyball season in style, bagging all the individual awards, namely Most Valuable Player, Freshman of the Year, and Rookie of the Year.

More pressure was put on Gia’s shoulder after last tournament’s MVP, Cha Cuñada did not participarte this time around but her team captain who was part of the championship team last season was more than proud to see her new teammate shine.

“Sobrang proud po ako sa kanya as a bagohan po, alam ko pong makukuha niya tas araw-araw kong sinasabi sa kaniya na kaya mo yan, angat ka sa lahat.” Silva said.

Jogi who idolizes her sister has nothing but kind words for her.

“Lumalaki po akong siya yung nilolook-up ko kasi ang galing niya po tapos very supportive po siya. Siya yung dahilan kung bakit ako nandito din dahil lagi akong sumusunod,” she said.