UP’s Isabel Molde from Catmon. Cebu saves the ball in one of their games in the Shakey’s V-League.
Catmon native Isabel Molde making waves
Following the tremendous success of such talents as reigning NCAA MVP Gretchel Soltones of San Sebastian, Cyd Demecillo of La Salle and last year’s UAAP beach volleyball MVP Cherry Rondina, another young Cebuana by the name of Isabel Molde is poised to make her own mark in the big leagues.
A 5-foot-7 spiker who hails from Catmon, Molde has come into her own in the ongoing Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference, where she has come away with consecutive Best Player of the Match honors after leading the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons to back-to-back wins and a share of the lead in the standings alongside powerhouse Army.
She first had 17 hits to push UP past Navy, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23, last Oct. 10 before scoring 15 in a 25-20, 25-22, 27-25 win over Coast Guard.
But as confident as she is in smashing spikes against defenses designed to stop her, the soft-spoken Cebuano turns meek when it comes to interviews.
“I don’t feel nervous whenever I play, but I do whenever I’m interviewed on TV,” said Molde.
The youngster’s success, though, is no fluke as she is coming off an impressive campaign in the recently concluded Collegiate Conference, where she proved the steadiest and most dominant Lady Maroon, leading the rookie-laden UP squad to the quarterfinals with 18-hit norms and clinching three Player of the Game honors.
Those performances have not gone unnoticed in the capital’s bustling volleyball scene.
“No one as young as this girl from Cebu has ever debuted in our tournament with such a strong impact. She is definitely another star in the making in the mold, pardon the pun, of superstar Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo,” said Ricky Palou, president of the organizing Sports Vision.
The daughter of elementary school principals, Molde caught the eye of champion coach Jerry Yee, who recruited her and Justine Dorog to join the powerhouse squad over at the Hope Christian High School.
Molde had to live away from her family in four years that she played for and studied in Hope Christian HS, getting to visit them only during the Christmas holidays.
During summer, she had to devote what is considered the grandest time in a student’s life to more training and participation in junior competitions to hone up her craft.
And the sacrifices have started to pay off. With UP in joint lead with Army, Molde hopes to sustain her form and keep the team in the title hunt while bracing herself for more of the limelight that she sheepishly tries to avoid.
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