Rookie setter Cassie Carballo dazzled in her first UAAP start, providing an offensive spark to the UST Golden Tigresses in their 25-16, 28-26, 25-21 victory over the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Wednesday.
Carballo earned player of the game honors after registering eight excellent sets.
In the post-game presser, UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes praised the rookie for delivering in the starting role she was given.
“Itong [pag-start ni Cassie], isa sa mga adjustment na ginagawa namin, and, luckily, nag-deliver si Cassie,” the coach said. “Very promising itong bata…willing siya i-adopt ‘yung sistema.”
With Carballo as the main offensive orchestrator against FEU, UST scored 50 attack points in three sets.
The Negrense rookie said playing in a team filled with offensive weapons made her job as a setter easier.
“In terms of scoring, maaasahan naman lahat, hindi ako masyadong nahihirapan kasi kahit kanino ko ibigay, alam kong kaya nilang pumuntos,” Carballo said.
Carballo, who was Best Setter in the 2018 Private Schools Athletic Association national meet, first earned minutes as the main setter for the Tigresses in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Conference, in which the team paraded a rookie-laden lineup, and played alongside longer-tenured players in the V-League Women’s Collegiate Cup.
She earned one player of the game award in the veteran-laden V-League Cup after recording 12 excellent sets in a game against the San Beda Lady Red Spikers.
UST star Eya Laure, who scored a game-high 17 points in the Tigresses’ first win, also lauded Carballo for her effort to learn and improve.
“Sa training pa lang, willing siyang mag-absorb ng mga instructions ng coaches, and, of course, ready din siya na mag-adopt ng sistema,” Laure said. “Si Cassie, since freshman siya, makikita mo na gusto niyang matuto, at gusto niyang malaman at ma-apply ‘yung [learnings niya] sa game.”
A tough task awaits the Tigresses in their next game as they are set to face the defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs on March 4, Saturday, 2 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena.
