When California Precision Academy surged into the spotlight of Philippine volleyball, much praise was directed towards the take-charge capabilities of its wing spikers, Jelai Gajero and Casiey Dongallo. Fast forward a few years, and these ace attackers, along with their setter Kizzie Madriaga and coach Obet Vital, found themselves bringing composure to the University of the East. They showcased this composure in the 2023 V-League Collegiate Challenge.
The Lady Red Warriors aimed to secure a 4-0 record on Wednesday as they faced a formidable team from the NCAA, the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. The squad clinched the first set at 25-22 and led 15-11 in the second set when an unfortunate incident occurred. Gajero had an awkward landing after going for a block, resulting in a twist to her left knee. The prolific scorer received treatment and was eventually seen with a brace on her injured knee.
With Gajero being one of the top scorers, the responsibility to carry the load fell on someone else. "We tried to make it clear that these things happen and that those who are fielded next must step up. It's unfortunate if something like this occurs or if the assessment was not accurate (referring to Gajero's injury)," shared head coach Jerry Yee. "I noticed that we were rattled after the incident, but somehow we managed to recover. Looking at the bright side, the girls' response was okay, even though it was a bit delayed."
UE eventually staged a comeback after being down two sets, with Kayce Balingit and Claire Castillo performing admirably on both ends of the court. However, it was Dongallo who shouldered the scoring responsibilities. Not only that, but the young spiker erupted for an impressive 37 points, all of which came from attacks. This performance tied the record set by Angela Benting for Adamson on November 24, 2009, and Lyceum's guest player, Ging Balse, on August 19, 2010.
Yee wasn't surprised by the outstanding performance delivered by the Cebuana upstart against the Lady Altas. "We are aware of what Casiey is capable of, and she knew she had to step up even more due to Jelai's injury. I'm simply thrilled that she delivered and contributed to our victory," he remarked.
With Gajero sidelined, Yee and the coaching staff are reviewing the reserves list to find a replacement for the roster. Despite this adversity, the team will move forward, supported by Dongallo's leadership and the collective efforts of the rest of the players.
