The Creamline Cool Smashers were down 12-14 in the fifth set against Pocari Sweat-Air Force. After letting a 2-0 sets lead slip away, other teams would have crumbled.
But Creamline have a particular set of stars who have built up solid trust over the years.
It was Alyssa Valdez, the four-time PVL MVP, who struck the first point off a combination play. After Wendy Semana gave up a net touch, Jia Morado took her turn coming in clutch.
Displaying her signature cold demeanor, the National Team setter calmly sunk back-to-back aces to close the match and gave Creamline their fourth win in five outings.
Having developed their connection since their days as two-time UAAP champions at Ateneo, Valdez knew Morado would not let their team down.
“Jia is really a reliable server talaga kahit saan naman, kahit mag-spike ata kaya niya. Pero we know na veteran na rin si Jia sa dami na rin ng pinagdaanan niyang five-setter games so alam na niya ‘yung gagawin niya,” said Valdez, who finished with 22 points.
“And sino bang hindi nagtitiwala kay Jia Morado? ‘Yun lang ‘yun. Even si coach Tai (Bundit) kahit sabihan niya na ito na ‘yung play, maniniwala si coach Tai sa kanya.”
In that situation, Morado insisted that she had to take a risk as her team was already on the brink of losing.
“Siyempre they were leading eh, so if ‘yung server easy lang ‘yung ibibigay, it’s like we give the game na,” said the two-time PVL Best Setter.
“So high risk, high reward din kasi ‘yung service sa ganoong crucial na moments so thankfully, high reward naman yung nakuha namin sa hard serves ko nung dulo.”
After letting a 2-0 lead dissipate and trailing for much of the decider, Morado is hopeful that her team learned a lesson.
“Siguro hindi natatapos yung game hangga’t ‘di umaabot sa fifteen or twenty-five. So, we just have to regroup doon sa fifth set and remind ourselves na five points lang ‘yan kaya ‘yan habulin. Hindi naman ‘yun imposible we just have to take it one point at a time and not let it get to our heads din.”
