F2 Logistics fielded its young guns against the winless Farm Fresh and almost paid the price. The Cargo Movers needed five sets to defeat the determined Foxies, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-8, on Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Mars Alba, Jolina Dela Cruz, Ethan Arce, and Ivy Lacsina were the young players who started for F2, joined by veterans Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, and Dawn Macandili-Catindig.
However, for head coach Regine Diego, these intense five-set matches will accelerate the maturity and experience of their young players.
“Well, maganda siya kasi at least nare-realize nila how it is pag nagsasayang sila ng points, nare-realize nila na ah kailangan ganito,” said Diego after their two-hour 14-minute bout with Farm Fresh.
“This team kasi, they need more reminders, they need more guidance, because they’re younger, and that’s part of it. Para siyang part of growing up in the pros.”
Despite requiring five sets, they delivered.
Dela Cruz and Lacsina achieved career-highs of 27 points each, with Dela Cruz also contributing 10 digs and 10 receptions. Ethan Arce scored seven points, while Alba recorded 17 excellent sets in addition to three points.
Diego expressed gratitude for the victory but stressed that it was a shaky one, as their youth was evident in the game.
“Siyempre it’s still a learning process. Maybe this is part of the birth pains of having younger players kasi siyempre karamihan ng nasa loob mga bata na,” said Diego, who did not have Myla Pablo and Kianna Dy due to injuries.
“Kailangan pa rin silang turuan how to make points, what to feel, ano yung play, marami pang kailangang guidance.”
With a 3-2 record, the Cargo Movers are tied with Akari for the seventh and eighth spots. However, they need to do more since only the top four teams after the elimination round will advance to the semifinals.
It was Dela Cruz and Lacsina who provided the crucial points for F2 Logistics in the deciding fifth set.
“Sinasabi na lang namin ni Ivy, di kami pwede matalo kanina kasi knowing na kalaban namin sila nung college at ayaw na rin namin na matalo. Alam din naman namin kung paano gumalaw yung kalaban namin,” Dela Cruz on the Foxies, mostly composed of former Adamson University players.
“Siguro kanina po nung fifth set, lagi po kami nag-a-eye contact ni Jolina. Parang sabi namin, kailangan nating panghawakan yung isa’t isa rito. Di pwede na sasabay tayo sa laro nila. Dapat na mas better at mas better yung laro namin,” followed Lacsina.
Up next for the Cargo Movers is another winless team, Gerflor. Diego is hopeful that her team remembers the lessons they learned from this intense five-set battle against the Foxies.
“Yung game na to, sana di na makalimutan na di pwedeng mag-relax hangga’t di pa tapos. Yun lang.”
