Mapúa rookie Raissa Ricablanca talks about scoring 13 points in her NCAA debut and helping the Lady Cardinals take down the San Sebastian Lady Stags to kick off their season. #NCAASeason99 #GMASports
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00:00 Thank you so much, Anton.
00:01 Now, I'm with another one of the rookies who showed up
00:05 the opposite spiker of the Mapua Cardinals, Riza Rica Blanca.
00:10 Riza, congratulations again for your victory for today.
00:14 I have a question for you.
00:16 Since you're a rookie in Mapua,
00:18 what were your adjustments in the team coming off of the season?
00:23 Actually, I didn't make a big adjustment this season
00:29 since I've already residenced with my teammates.
00:33 So, our connections were built last season.
00:38 It's important to have a connection between the teams,
00:42 between the players as well.
00:44 For today, you showed a great performance.
00:48 My question to you is,
00:49 how do you plan to maintain it for the upcoming games?
00:54 I think we should be consistent in our training and discipline,
01:00 especially in our conditioning.
01:03 I think that's the big factor for our win today.
01:07 That's right.
01:09 I know you're a rookie for the Mapua Cardinals.
01:12 We have some veteran athletes who are playing with you.
01:16 I know they're all good and have their own skills.
01:19 But out of all of them,
01:20 who do you look up to and why?
01:24 I look up to Aliana Ong.
01:28 She's my idol in blocking skills.
01:31 Every time I go to court, we're always side by side.
01:36 So, I bring her blocking skills with me
01:41 because I want her to be my teammate.
01:44 Aliana Ong, you're the one Ryza looks up to.
01:48 My last question to you,
01:50 I asked this in our first interview,
01:54 but now, Ryza, what more can we expect from you?
01:58 You just have to expect that
02:00 we won't just maintain our performance,
02:03 we'll improve for the upcoming games
02:08 and hopefully for the semifinals and finals.
02:11 And expect consistency from Ryza.
02:14 Anton and Melissa, do you have any questions for Ryza?
02:18 It's simple, Ryza.
02:20 Because, of course, Kaliwete's spikers are rare.
02:25 You're a lefty, you play the opposite position.
02:27 And Melissa and I talked about this,
02:29 it's hard to keep up with that kind of player.
02:33 Are there other lefties that you watch,
02:36 that you pattern your game, that you also idolize?
02:40 My idol ever since is Mylynn Paat.
02:45 Because she's also my sister.
02:49 Because you're an Adamson High School student.
02:52 So, as a rookie,
02:55 what's your preparation mentally, physically,
03:00 for your first ever game in NCAA?
03:03 I just have discipline,
03:05 like last night, I slept early.
03:08 And when I woke up this morning,
03:11 I was mentally prepared.
03:13 I needed meditation,
03:15 so that I can be ready for this game.
03:19 And I'm thankful that I won.
03:21 Okay, so that's it from our end.
03:24 Stephanie?
03:25 Thank you, Anton and Melissa.
03:27 At this point, Ryza, do you have anything to say?
03:29 Do you want to thank someone? Go ahead.
03:31 I just want to thank the Mapua community.
03:34 I just want to say hello to my family,
03:37 my mom here in Manila,
03:39 and other relatives here in Manila.
03:41 And of course, my family in Calatagan, Batangas.
03:44 Hello to you all.
03:45 And again, congratulations, Ryza.
03:47 Thank you.