As Letran gets another crack at the championship in NCAA women’s volleyball, Intramuros will receive a tremendous lift from the addition of ace rookie Vanessa Sarie. But head coach Oliver Almadro refuses to believe in the logic of a ‘missing piece’ when they attempt to topple Benilde for the second straight time. 

“I don't believe in the idea of a missing piece or a lacking piece,” Almadro told GMA Regional TV News on the heels of their semifinals victory against Arellano, maintaining that in his playbook, it will always be about how individual talents play as a collective.

The entry of Bicolano phenom Vanessa Sarie has pragmatically boosted Letran’s Season 100 campaign, and her numbers simply make an undeniable case. 

Sarie was the league’s best scorer and third most effective spiker after the elimination round. She also broke the all-time record for most points in a single game with a 37-point explosion against Arellano on May 16. 

All these and more in her first year in the collegiate scene. 

Remarkable as her performance may have been, Letran’s multi-titled coach does not want to think of it as the ‘final piece’ to their championship puzzle.

Instead, he subscribes to the idea of great players working in sync with a great team. 

“Yes, Sarie is a very good player, but she's just part of the team. She cannot do things na hindi nagagawa ng iba. Volleyball is a sport where you have to rely on each other’s skills and performances. So without the help of each other, wala rin,” Coach O– as Almadro is popularly known– added.

Palpably, it is not just Sarie who has been making waves for the Intramuros-based squad. 

Third-year opposite spiker Judiel Nitura trails closely in the scoring department, emerging as the league’s second best scorer and the No. 1 server entering the Final Four. 

Opposite hitter Gia Maquilang, who had a sensational rookie year in Season 99, stands atop the best spiker ranking, while veteran team captain Lara Mae Silva is by far the best receiver and best digger in Season 100. 

“Good thing, Sarie is there, meron kaming anchor. Pero the most important thing is Sarie being a good teammate to her team,” he noted. 

“I always believe that you have to find a way and make a way with what you have. So last year (pwedeng) kulang kami sa players, and umabot kami sa Finals. Ngayon, ito naman ang aming players, and we have to find a way,” Coach O said, pertaining to the Lady Knights’ maiden finish last year after getting swept by Benilde in the finals. 

This year, the No. 2-seed Lady Knights are set to face a familiar tormentor in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball finals, and if they are to win their first ever title in 26 years, they will have to topple the top-seed and four-peat-seeking Lady Blazers. 

“My thoughts on going to the Finals? Sabi ko lang, we have to do good, we should not give up, and we’ll reap at the right time.”

Game 1 of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Finals between the Letran Lady Knights and the Benilde Lady Blazers will be on June 8, Sunday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan City.