By ADRIAN STEWART CO

As the UAAP Season 88 volleyball elimination round reached its final stretch, National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs’ Shaira Jardio delivered standout performances to claim the UAAP Player of the Week honor.

The Negrense Jardio anchored NU’s floor defense in two grueling five-set matches that helped the Lady Bulldogs secure a key position entering the stepladder phase.

Against unbeaten De La Salle University, the fourth-year libero tallied 35 digs and 16 excellent receptions in a tightly contested match that the Lady Spikers eventually won, 27-25, 15-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13, to advance directly to the finals.

Jardio followed this with another strong showing in NU’s five-set victory over University of Santo Tomas (UST), recording 33 excellent receptions and 16 digs to clinch the second seed and a semifinal bye in the stepladder.

NU finished the eliminations with a 10-4 record, with Jardio playing a key role in the team’s late surge.

“Siguro gusto ko ipakita na kaya namin itong makuha. Kailangan talaga na mas matibay ‘yung floor defense and attacking namin,” Jardio said.

“Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko na all-out na lagi every game. Hindi na pwedeng mag-doubt sa sarili. Kailangan confident lagi every game,” she added.

Jardio edged out fellow contenders Arah Panique of NU, Adamson University’s Shaina Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay, De La Salle’s Angel Canino and Shane Reterta, and UST’s Angge Poyos for the weekly citation./ASC, WDJ