MANILA – For the most part, Michelle Cobb gave a good account of herself in her first start for De La Salle University on Saturday in the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball tournament.

With the defending champions Lady Spikers taking on the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, Cobb came through with six points and 37 excellent sets. She helped La Salle come away with a hard-fought 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-8.

Indeed, it was Cobb's block on UST star Sisi Rondina in the final rally of the match that sealed the win for the Lady Spikers.

"Sa ngayon, passing grade," La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus said of Cobb's effort shortly after La Salle's two-hour, 25-minute marathon against the Tigresses.

Nevertheless, there is clearly room for improvement. De Jesus yanked Cobb out of the game at some points, handing the setting duties over to Desiree Cheng. The sophomore playmaker also committed quite a few errors, though she more than made up for it with a solid effort in the deciding fifth set.

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De Jesus makes it clear that he does not expect Cobb to play at the same level as Kim Fajardo, La Salle's iconic playmaker who led the Lady Spikers to back-to-back UAAP championships in Season 78 and 79.

"Ang sa akin kasi, kung ano 'yung style niya, i-improve niya 'yung style niya," the coach said of Cobb. "Siguro more on ano… basta maitaas lang 'yung bola."

"Mas maganda siguro 'yungmas nadidiskartehan n'ya nang husto 'yung set niya," de Jesus added. "And at the same time, hinahanapan niya kung paano magkakaroon ng open block or single block 'yung spikers."

Still, it was a solid debut for Cobb, who spread the touches among the La Salle spikers the way Fajardo used to do. She already seems to have a good connection with reigning MVP Majoy Baron, who converted 12 of her 26 attacks in the game – mostly through quick kills or running hits.

"A lot was going on my mind," Cobb admitted after her debut. "Especially 'yung composure. Coach was telling me na kapag composed ka, composed silang lahat. Pag okay kay, okay silang lahat. So I feel like parang mind game din siya, na kapag nag-fall 'yung team, kailangan may compensation ng points."

"It's all in the mind, siguro," she added.

Ultimately, Cobb is just thankful to have helped the Lady Spikers open their three-peat bid on a winning note, even if it did take them five sets to dispatch a stubborn UST squad.

"It's a long season, and 'yung first game na 'yun, sabin ila okay lang na five sets," said Cobb. "Kasi, marami kaming natutunan, and compared pag kunwari, three sets lang. Parang wala masyado."

"Lesson na rin na 'yung five sets na 'yun, kasi madami pa kami mai-improve for the future games."

La Salle gets a weeklong break before facing University of the Philippines on February 10 at the FilOil Flying Centre.

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