In her first Finals game, Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws graduating captain Bernadeth Pons had a rather forgettable outing.
The arguably best all-around player in the UAAP showed her defensive wares, nabbing 17 digs and 12 receptions, but was muffled offensively, with only nine points.
Pons — like most of the Lady Tamaraws — struggled to limit her errors, with La Salle’s towering blockers impeding her attacking lanes.
“‘Yung errors talaga namin. Sinabi nga ni coach noong training pa lang, ‘yung labanan is kung sino ‘yung maraming errors, ‘yun yung matatalo,” lamented the native of Talisay, Negros Occidental. “Yun ang nangyari ngayon. Kasi, ine-explain sa amin ni coach yung stats, yung score namin is dikit lang eh.
“Tapos ‘yung errors namin sobrang dami talaga. ‘Yun ang kailangang ma-lessen pa namin kasi ‘yun ‘yung nanalo ang La Salle kasi konti ang in-error nila. Kami, sobrang daming error.”
With Game Two threatening to be her last game in the UAAP, the 21-year-old outside hitter is looking to gather herself and retool before Wednesday.
“Kailangan kong mag-charge ulit. Kailangan pang mas maging ma-utak ako sa Game Two kasi malalaki sila eh. Bantay talaga ako kanina. Kailangan bumawi talaga ako sa Game Two,” she declared.
“Kailangan ko ma-lead ang team ko.”