PVL leader Joyme Cagande of BaliPure is a joy to watch

MANILA, Philippines – Don’t look now, but one of the youngest players in the ongoing Reinforced Conference of the second Premier Volleyball League season is already making a name for herself — BaliPure National University’s Joyme Cagande.

Cagande, only an incoming freshman, is leading the league in sets over more seasoned and bemedalled playmakers.

It would be easy to say that the young playmaker has a Janisa Johnson to give the ball. However, during BaliPure’s first outing, a four-set loss to Iriga — where Cagande and her other teammates were clearly nervous and in a getting-to-know-you phase with middle hitter Alexis Mathews (Johnson did not suit up for the game although she was on the sidelines) — she wasn’t too far off against veteran Janet Serafica in excellent sets, 35-28.

In the Purest Water Defenders’ next match, against PetroGazz, it was once more a nervy first set, after which the team played better. BaliPure NU has since won three straight for a 3-1 record — good for third place in the team rankings. Cagande though is the top-ranked setter.

In BaliPure’s recent four-set win over Bank Perlas, Cagande finished the game with 54 excellent sets, the second consecutive game where she has notched 50 or more. After the win, when asked how she felt about being the top setter, Cagande merely brushed it aside.

“It means more pressure. But that doesn’t mean anything. It would mean a lot for me to help my team get a win and if possible, win a championship,” she said.

“Joyme, she plays bigger than her height,” reflected head coach Raymond “Babes” Castillo, who has coached Cagande in the past four years. His prodigious setter stands a mere 5’3” but has a heart bigger than that.

“That is why she is the team captain,” pointed out Castillo. With Cagande setting up the likes of Faith Nisperos, Princess Robles, Mhicaela Belen, Ivy Lacsina and Alyssa Solomon in UAAP Girls competition, they have won four titles in the main league and a smattering of others elsewhere.

“And she is a winner. Don’t be deceived by her height… Joyme is a competitor,” added Castillo.

Cagande expressed joy playing alongside Johnson (who the team affectionately calls “JJ”): “Sometimes, the set isn’t to her liking but she doesn’t complain. She adjusts well in the air to get a solid spike.”

The two are what we have referred to the PVL’s version of Gary Payton to Shawn Kemp where the former Seattle Supersonics guard would throw up all sorts of crazy lobs, which the high-flying forward would corral anyway for a death-defying dunk.

Johnson also lavished some praise on BaliPure’s setter, “She’s very young. Sometimes I can’t believe how young she is but she is playing better and getting better with each game. It is a joy to play with her.”

For all the early praise, Cagande takes it all in stride. “I’m just trying to do my best and have fun at the same time.”

Why not? BaliPure Version 3 has not missed a beat and is continuing their winning ways in spite of fielding a third consecutive new lineup in the past three seasons.

“It’s a good young team,” noted team consultant Gil Cortez. “And Joyme is a good reason why.”