UAAP: La Salle teammates’ trust fuels Jillian Santos in win

La Salle rookie Jillian Santos during a UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball game. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—La Salle’s Jillian Santos didn’t hold back from crediting her teammates following her performance at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

Santos was instrumental in the Lady Spikers’ sweep of the University of the East, 25-22, 25-13, 25-23, in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.

Instead of tooting her horn, though, Santos said her outing was bred from the trust and belief that her fellow Lady Spikers have in her.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament second round

“I think the thing that keeps me going are my teammates, first and foremost,” said Santos. “I also have full trust in my coaches, they’re guiding me to work hard every day in and out of the gym.”

Santos, who played three seasons overseas in the US NCAA Division 1, hasn’t been getting much exposure for La Salle until Saturday’s action.

So when her number was called, the 5-foot-10 spiker made sure to make the most of the opportunity given to her. Santos finished with six points in the win.

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It may not be much on paper, but she was crucial in easing the load for Angel Canino and Shevana Laput, who only needed to score 16 and 14 points, respectively, for their third straight win.

“I’m grateful to have a lot of experience playing volleyball but I think I’ve been in my adjustment process because I’m adapting to a new system of play,” she said.

“I think this is a good starting point for me to get into my groove, adapting to coach Ramil’s (De Jesus) system and it’s always great to play alongside my teammates.”

La Salle, which currently holds an 8-3 card, hopes to get even more from Santos next week, Saturday, when they take on the streaky University of the Philippines, still at the Big Dome.