Tan has big shoes to fill in replacing Lazaro as Ateneo libero

MANILA, Philippines — A lot has changed in 3 months for Gizelle Tan.

She was still a setter the last time she played at the FilOil Flying V Arena in October as the Ateneo Lady Eagles fell to the NU Lady Bulldogs in the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference Finals. But she came back in a different role Sunday, January 31 as she played her first UAAP volleyball match as a libero. 

She also returned with a much heavier responsibility on her shoulders. 

“Super big shoes to fill because Denden (Lazaro) was a Best Receiver, and before we didn’t have a hard time with receives and defense because Den was there and now I have to fill up Den’s shoes,” Tan shared after the Lady Eagles claimed their first win of the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament versus the Lady Bulldogs, the last team she played against as a setter. 

The 21-year-old is tasked to become the Lady Eagles’ new defensive ace after reliable veteran Denden Lazaro graduated last year. Tan has the unenviable job of trying to fill in for Lazaro, a two-time Best Receiver and a Best Digger for the reigning back-to-back champions.

“There is pressure. Denden’s a really good player. I looked up to her ever since I was a rookie,” Tan said, adding she meditates, prays, and talks to her coaches and teammates to help her get over those pressures. “She’s one of the best liberos in the Philippines.” 

Tan made her transition from setter to libero right after that V-League conference, pouring in hours upon hours of extra training to unlearn natural setter tendencies she honed since second grade. 

“I think I had first game jitters because it’s my first time playing as libero,” admitted Tan, who noted she saw action only once before as a libero outside of the UAAP but never trained for the position until now. 

“It was challenging for me. I never received or did defense as much as the libero does in my whole life, in my whole career as a volleyball player. It’s very challenging but kakayanin (I will endure) for the love of the game.”

The 5-foot-1 Tan debuted as libero with 9 excellent receptions in Ateneo’s straight sets victory over NU. She said she received plenty of encouragement and advice from Lazaro and Ella De Jesus, who likewise graduated last season but served as the Lady Eagles’ libero during the V-League. 

Ateneo’s floor defense has been a cause for concern after Lazaro’s graduation. Lazaro’s superb play was critical in firing up Ateneo’s vaunted offense powered by reigning back-to-back MVP Alyssa Valdez.

Against an NU team that has potent weapons in Jaja Santiago, Myla Pablo and Jorelle Singh, Ateneo proved shaky and tentative to start as Valdez admitted the team is still adjusting to life without Lazaro and De Jesus. But she was nonetheless impressed with Tan’s performance. 

“The adjustment from being a setter to a libero, it’s really hard,” Valdez said. “She knows how difficult it is to set if you don’t have a good receive. That’s likely her mindset. She’s very hardworking.” 

Tan, playing on her fourth year, said she plans to keep on improving when it comes to reading attacks and being “extra aggressive inside the court.” 

“I think I played okay,” she said, “but I have to train more and learn from experiences.” — Rappler.com