Injury-free season makes Lady Bulldogs’ latest UAAP title sweeter for Sheena Toring

MANILA, Philippines — The UAAP championship was a cherry on top for NU Lady Bulldogs middle blocker Sheena Toring as she celebrated a personal victory Wednesday night.

After back-to-back seasons of ending her year with an injury, the NU veteran finished a healthy season for herself and the team, which further sweetened their redemption bid for the UAAP crown.

More than the gold medal around her neck, Toring gushed about seeing all her teammates healthy and safe.

“Feeling ko ngayon is sobrang happy and parang satisfying [yung champion] kasi nung [Season] 84, actually, nagkaroon ako ng back injury dun after, and then last season din, na-injure ako sa tuhod,” said Toring. 

“Ngayon, thankfully Lord, binigyan ako ng lakas ng loob na wala akong injury. No injury. So I’m really happy na yung achievement na to is safe lahat, walang injury.”

But it wasn’t an easy journey for Toring and the Lady Bulldogs. After some average showings early on in the season, the NU veteran developed her game to contribute to her team more and more.

When it came to the semifinals and the championship round, Toring’s season peaked.

“For me as a middle blocker, alam kong may pagkukulang kami, kaming mga blocker nung first round. Lagi kaming ni-reremind ng coaches na hindi lang silang wingers dapat ang pupuntos, dapat middle din,” she said. 

“So kami ni Erin [Pangilinan], Chamcham [Maaya], Aisha [Bello], nag-step up talaga kami. Pinagtrabahuhan talaga namin para hindi lang kami pabigat na gusto namin mag-contribute din… So I’m happy na kami, lumaban talaga kami at nag-step up para makuha tong championship na to.”

In the title-clinching win, Toring finished with 10 points to join three other Lady Bulldogs in double-digit scoring.

NU took their second championship in three seasons.