For much of the near three-hour Game One of the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Cup Finals, the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers struggled for form.
The most perplexed was head coach Ramil de Jesus, who watched his best and most experienced players stumble early in the match.
Left with no choice, the decorated mentor threw bench player after bench player into the fray, hoping someone would stick.
By the fifth set – and rolling with usual suspects Aby Maraño, Kim Fajardo, Majoy Baron, Dawn Macandili and Ara Galang, to go with Des Cheng and Michelle Morente – the Cargo Movers showed their championship mettle, making all the crucial plays down the stretch to close the match.
Sporting one of the most experienced lineups in the PSL, De Jesus knows that the Cargo Movers have more to show.
“Sabi ko championship game ito. Hindi pupuwedeng hindi natin ibigay ang sarili natin, lalo na hindi nagiging maganda ang tawag ng referee,” shared De Jesus. “So, sabi ko wala tayong kakampi kundi sarili lang natin, so asahan natin ang sarili natin. Kung kaya natin manalo kailangan sa sarili natin galing hindi sa errors ng kalaban.
“‘Yung iba wala pa ring kumpiyansa – hindi buo ‘yung loob na lumaban ng finals kaya ni-reshuffle ko ‘yung tao so kung nakita nila na ‘yung kasama nila nagpapakahirap sa loob siguro dapat narealize nila na, ‘Ako dapat ‘yung nasa loob na first six so dapat ako ang naglalaro.’ Then pagbalik nila medyo nakaka-recover naman.”
Having already lost two titles against Petron, De Jesus knows that they will have very few easy chances come Game Two.
“Sabi ko nga sa inyo, ‘yung team ng Petron mahirap mahanapan ng butas kasi madalang ‘yung unforced errors, hindi basta-basta dumadating.”
