The veteran-laden, formidable Laoag Power Smashers are being hounded by struggles as of late, with inconsistency becoming obvious in their performances.
With four outings into the 13th Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference, Laoag has been on a roller-coaster ride. They won their opener against Coast Guard, but dropped their next one opposite of Bureau of Customs, wherein Alyssa Valdez made 39 points.
The Power Smashers came back from the loss and stunned Air Force. But Monday night, they were the ones stunned, as the UP Lady Maroons regained bearings and ended their own losing skid at their expense.
Leading scorer Grethcel Soltones was all praises for UP, then addressed that their poor communication with each other on the court was a factor in their recent loss that sent their record to an even .500.
“Magaling naman talaga yung UP kahit bata pa sila. And kanina mas composed yung teamwork nila kaysa sa amin kasi we lacked communication awhile ago eh,” said Soltones moments after the match.
The five-foot-seven offensive lynchpin also rued the team’s lack of eagerness and will to play at a high level against a young team in UP.
“Wala rin kaming masyadong intensity,” lamented the ace spiker from San Sebastian College-Recoletos.
The former National Team stalwart admitted that the team’s problems with chemistry still haunts Laoag, which is one of the factors in their recent setbacks.
And such problem stems from the fact that most players such as her in the Power Smashers team could not commit fully since they also have to put time in their academics.
“Hindi pa kami ganoon nagje-gel. Students kasi yung iba sa’min, so minsan meron, minsan wala.”
“Siyempre iba rin yung nagsasama na kayo for a long time ‘di ba. Yun din yung isa sa problema namin,” she furthered.
With the stinging four-set defeat, Soltones expressed feelings of regret, since a win from UP could have sent Laoag a place safer as the playoffs loom around the corner.
“Kung nanalo raw kami kanina eh safe na kami. Kaso nga, talo,” she said.
Soltones is hoping that she and Laoag can bounce back in their remaining assignments against UST, Pocari Sweat, and BaliPure in a tough three-game stretch.
“Sana makapanalo kami sa next three games namin kasi malalakas na sila. Kanina sayang talaga eh, kaya namin yun,” she said.
In order for them to produce better results once the final whistle blows in each and every match, all that Soltones says is they have to connect with each other well and clear.
“Usap lang talaga. Kasi nandoon na yung konting adjustment sa isa’t-isa eh.”
