Former UE Lady Warriors star Casiey Dongallo in UAAP Season 86. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — UAAP women’s volleyball standout Casiey Dongallo was among those in attendance on the opening day of the Season 87 festivities on Saturday.

Dongallo, who previously transferred from the University of the East to the University of the Philippines during the offseason, watched as her former and present teams clashed, but she said that her heart is of support to both squads.

“Watching them is parang may panghihinayang pa rin, na sana nandyan ako sa loob ng court, naglalaro pa rin,” the 5-foot-7 star told a few reporters in-between the UP-UE match.

“Pero ayun po, wala naman [akong] pagpipili sa kanila, kung saan ako nakasuporta ngayon. I’m supporting both teams kasi naging past ko din naman yung UE. Kahit nasa UP naman ako hindi ko pa rin nakalimutan yung UE,” she continued.

Dongallo, together with Kizzie Madriaga, Jelai Gajero, Shamel Fernandez, and Jenalyn Umayam, have moved to State U just less than a year after their promising stint with the Lady Warriors in Season 86.

But for now, Dongallo’s focus is her transition mostly on the academic side of her move to UE as she is also taking care of her National team responsibilities.

“Yung adjustment in terms of academics okay naman po, pero in terms of training, hindi pa po kami nakiki-join sa training ng UAAP kasi nagte-train kami for PNVF Under-21,” she said.

One thing that is making her move to the Maroons, she pointed out, is having the company of Madriaga, Gajero, Fernandez, and Umayam who are all also products of their high school alma mater California Academy.

“Simula nung high school, magkasama kami,” said Dongallo. “‘Di ko naman inakala na mangyayari pala ‘to, so [arang masaya pa rin kasi kahit nagkagulo, parang pinili pa rin nila na magkasama kami hanggang sa dulo. Ayun na nga, nagkagulo talaga tas pinili pa rin po nilang magkasama kami.”

The quintet is currently serving their one-year residency and will be eligible to play in Season 88.