De La Salle skipper and playmaker Julia Coronel has been embracing her dual role as the defending champions got hounded by injuries at the crucial stretch of the eliminations of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. 

Without reigning Most Valuable Player Angel Canino in the rotation due to a right arm injury which has now sidelined her for the past four matches, the Taft-based squad had to crawl to get it done and fight for its place in the standings. 

During La Salle’s four-set affair with Adamson last April 17, opposite spiker Baby Jyne Soreño also went down mid-game after colliding with a teammate on a dig attempt – resulting in a possible dislocated shoulder. 

With the unfortunate incidents, the playmaker is making it work with what’s left in the rotation. 

“I’m still learning. We are all still learning. We know that we still have lapses that we have to work on. That’s what we are continuously working on during practice. Kakaunti na lang ang natitirang games namin in the elimination and we want to make every game count,” Coronel said. 

“There’s still a lot to improve on. We still have to continuously be making adjustments since ‘yun nga may nangyari rin kay Jyne. But again, despite the injuries and despite everything, we have to keep fighting and working as a team,” she added. 

Coronel, though, admitted that the adversities get the best of her at times.

Even then, she wants to fulfill her role as a leader.

“As much as possible I try to keep on motivating them. I try to talk to each and everyone and just uplift their spirits. Even if sometimes ako rin not at my best. But we really just have each other’s backs. That’s what I appreciate so much about my team. So lalaban lang kami at lalaban hanggang dulo,” she said. 

At 10-2, La Salle fell to a three-way tie with National University and University of Santo Tomas in the standings – both of whom have gotten the better of them. 

Still, the Lady Spikers are keeping a brave face as they iron out some lapses and tackle the already-ran Ateneo Blue Eagles on April 21 before ending the eliminations against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses on April 27. 

Both matches determine La Salle’s chances of being able to arm itself with a twice-to-beat advantage with an easier return ticket to the championship series awaiting them.