With the DLSU Lady Spikers losing a number of veterans to graduation, it is up to the remaining holdovers of La Salle to keep the crown in Taft. Tin Tiamzon captained DLSU to a third place finish in the UAAP Season 79 Beach Volleyball Tournament last 2016 and has established herself as a starter in the indoor tournament.
“Blessed lang ako I got to be there [in the starting lineup]. I guess my hard work paid off,” she said in an interview with The LaSallian in the early stages of the season. “All I have to do now is fill in the roles of Ate Ara [Galang] and Ate Cyd [Demecillo]. [Hopefully I can] match what they were doing last year, maybe do even better so that I can really help the team and maybe win the championship again,” she explained further.
Stepping up
Tiamzon has been able to finish a handful of games in double-figures in terms of scoring as La Salle now holds seven wins in nine games. She describes the team’s currently mentality, saying, “[Our mindset now] is just to keep on working on our teamwork. [Also to] enjoy the game more, to believe in each other, and kapit.”
She notched 17 points off 12 spikes and three blocks en route to her season high versus the NU Lady Bulldogs last February 19 in the first round.
A continuous process
On the other side, Tiamzon has found herself alternating between double-digit and single-digit scoring outputs throughout the season so far. She struggled to establish her rhythm versus the ADMU Lady Eagles in their four-set defeat, but bounced back the following game.
In their 25-5, 25-23, 25-23 rout of the FEU Lady Tamaraws, the sophomore finished with 10 points on nine spikes. With momentum in favor of FEU, she calmly sealed the match with a spike off the block from a set by Michelle Cobb.
Despite having an off day in yesterday’s win over NU in four sets, she remained to be unfazed. Instead, she looked at the bigger picture and sought to help the team’s collective effort. “If I can’t kill or make an attack, sabi ko sa sarili ko, bawi ako sa mga blocking, sipag sa defense, and sa receive [ng bola] (If I can’t kill or make an attack, I told myself to makeup for it on blocking, hard work on defense, and receiving the ball).”
As to her current performance, Tiamzon mentioned that she has to work on her consistency through continuously polishing her overall game. “Sa practice lang talaga, I just have to work on everything, overall skills, kasi nga outside hitter, they do everything,” the Business Management major elaborates.
In spite of the situation, she remains to be unagitated and composed, and has been building on the positives. She has also looked to older sister and former Lady Spiker Erika Tiamzon-Billena to guide her along the way. “She gives me notes and tells me to just keep calm, [to] trust in the team, and the system.”
Beyond her teammates, coaches, and family, Tiamzon also has the Lasallian community cheering her on in DLSU’s bid to keep the much coveted volleyball title in Taft.
