Angel Canino proved to be a top-caliber volleyball rising star following a spectacular showing in her rookie year for De La Salle University.
Behind her stellar performance, the Lady Spikers ended a five-year title drought as they ruled the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
Averaging 20 points per game in sweeping the dethroned National University in the best-of-three finals, Canino could be a perfect candidate for the national women’s team which needs new faces and young talent to join its program.
But the Season 85 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player winner would like to have more time to think about the possibility of once again donning the national colors.
“It all depends on what the decision of (La Salle’s) coaching staff,” Canino answered when asked about a future stint with the national team after La Salle captured its 12th UAAP crown overall.
Playing for the flag and country is nothing new to Canino.
The 19-year-old winger already had a couple of tours of duty representing the Philippine youth team.
She saw action in the 2019 Women’s Volleyball Kor Royal Cup in Thailand and helped the country finish runner-up in the 2019 ASEAN School Games in Indonesia.
‘It all depends on what the decision of (La Salle’s) coaching staff.’
Canino, who was also named 2nd Best Outside Spiker, would be a great addition to the national squad, which is hoping to send a competitive roster for the pandemic-delayed 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
“Personally, I would like to have a long talk with my family and (La Salle) coaching staff about (joining the national team) so that we can properly settle everything,” Canino said.
The Philippines just finished fourth in the recently concluded 32nd Southeast Asian Games, going home empty-handed once again since winning bronze in the 2005 edition in Bacolod.
Back in 2018, the Nationals made their return to the Asian Games in Indonesia but landed only at the eighth spot out of 11 entries.
