With Dell Palomata likely out for the remainder of the conference, Head Coach Jasper Jimenez said his second stringers must step up for the semis-bound Air Force Jet Spikers.
“Sinasabi ko sa [second stringers], ‘kailangan magtrabaho tayo kahit wala si Dell,'” said Jimenez.
The 6’3″ Aklan native will most likely be out for the Shakey’s V League Season 13 Open Conference because of her commitment to the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod, where she is an incoming senior.
“Actually prepared na kami du’n kasi ‘yun ang napagusapan, na hindi na siya papayagan ‘pag nag-start na ‘yung school year,” said the head coach. “So ‘yun ‘yung pina-practice namin: less Palomata na talaga kami.”
Jimenez admitted, though, that the Palomata-shaped hole in the middle of Air Force’s defense is not one that his second stringers will easily fill.
PAF’s Iari Yongco will play a bigger role to fill-up the hole Palomata leaves
“Unang-una, ‘yung asset namin na blocking, kasi malaking bagay sa’min ‘yung pang-intimidate,” he said. “Iba ‘pag nasa loob ‘yung Palomata. Mas maganda ‘yung galaw nila ‘pag nasa loob [siya].”
In their straight-sets win against Iriga, Jimenez put his back-up bigs to the test, shuffling between Iari Yongco and Angel Antipuesto, who combined for 10 points.
“Nakita ko naman na nag-step up lahat ‘yung second stringers ko, kaya lang, hindi pa lang nasu-sustain nang dire-direcho,” he said. “Ini-improve pa namin ‘yung sitwasyon namin.”
