By ADRIAN STEWART CO

National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs libero Shaira Jardio remained grounded after being named Best Libero at the conclusion of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball elimination round.

Known for her steady floor defense, the Negrense said she approaches every play with a simple but consistent goal in mind.

She also attributed recognition to her mindset and the collective effort of the Lady Bulldogs.

“Sa akin po kasi wala naman [hesitation] kasi gusto ko lang lagi iangat ‘yung bola — ayan talaga ‘yung goal ko,” Jardio said in an interview with Fastbreak.

Despite drawing buzz on social media as a strong contender for the award even before it was officially announced, Jardio said she did not expect to receive the honor.

“Thank you po. Siguro sa trabaho din, sa team, kailangan po kasi talaga. Hindi ko naman ine-expect na ganun, pero thank you,” she said.

Jardio emphasized that her performance is driven by the demands of her role and her commitment to contribute to the team’s success rather than individual accolades.

With NU already securing a semifinals berth, Jardio said the team remains focused on sustaining its momentum heading into the next phase of the competition.

“‘Yung mga lapses po namin, pagtatrabahuhan pa namin at lilinisin pa namin ‘yung galaw namin,” she said.

As the Lady Bulldogs gear up for the semifinals against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, Jardio’s consistency at the backline is expected to play a key role in their campaign for another championship./ASC, WDJ