Starting a tournament with a 0-3 streak is something no team wants to experience, but that is the hole the Meralco Power Spikers find themselves in.
The team lost their opening match of the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix to the Foton Tornadoes in straight sets, and then got pummelled by a veteran Petron team. Meralco had an opportunity to nab their first victory when they went against the RC Cola Air Force Raiders, when they took a 2-1 set lead before RC Cola imports, Lynda Morales and Sara McClinton, put their team on their backs to run away with a five set victory.
Still winless after three games, Meralco team captain Cha Cruz finds herself in unfamiliar territory. The four-time UAAP champion is unused to having a losing record. With the setbacks her team has been facing, she is still able to see the positives despite the losses, and believes the team has improved throughout the three games.
“Medyo nag step-up kami kahit papaano from the first two games. We’re slowly catching up, and hopefully in the next game we’ll get there.”
Cruz shared that the different responsibilities of the players have hampered the team’s practice time together, and having the team as a whole practice together has proven difficult so far. Aside from studies that the other members of the team have to focus on, Cruz’s teammates, Cyd Demecillo and Kim Fajardo are participating in the UAAP Beach Volleyball tournament. This puts Meralco in a predicament as Fajardo is the team’s setter, and she still needs time to get used to the team’s two new imports.
“Madaming ginagawa yung mga bata, maraming activities, so madalas nagkukulang sa training. Hindi pa masyadong connected yung setter and imports. I guess hindi pa fully nagge-gel yung team,” shared Cruz. “Kung sino yung nakakapunta sa training, yun lang yung nakakapag adjust. Tapos pagdating sa game, different composition yung naglalaro, so it’s really hard.”
Despite their record and the difficulties the team has faced, Cruz remains optimistic about the team and their ability to bounce back.
“Oo naman, super motivated pa rin kami. Sobrang saya kami in a way na nalabanan namin sila na dalawa yung import sa loob habang kami isa lang. Hindi naman super bad yung pinakita namin. Nakita rin namin yung improvements every game, though talo pa rin. Pero sobrang positive pa rin na makakabawi kami.”
