Coming off a hot four-game winning streak, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws were expected to at least put up a fight against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
Instead, the Lady Tamaraws flopped, failing to replicate their first round win and falling in straight sets.
The Lady Tamaraws were cold offensively, with team captain Bernadeth Pons putting up a chilly five points.
The 21-year-old outside hitter admits that while the Lady Tamaraws had the desire, they did not show it in their movements.
“Siyempre, pinaghandaan talaga namin ‘yung Ateneo. Siyempre, gusto talaga namin silang talunin. Kaso, ‘yung kagustuhan naming manalo hindi lumabas sa ginalaw namin,” the Negrense conceded.
“‘Yung galaw namin parang gigil na wala sa timing. Maganda ‘din ‘yung ginawa ng Ateneo.”
Moreover, the Lady Tamaraws produced just three aces, a far cry from the 20 they fired in the first round against the Lady Eagles.
With six games to go, Pons adds that the Lady Tamaraws need to regain their confidence quickly.
“Medyo down kami kasi, siyempre, mataas ‘yung morale namin noong natapos ‘yung first round,” the 5-foot-7 spiker shared. “Confident kami na kapag kinalaban namin ulet ‘yung Ateneo, matatalo namin sila. So, sobrang layo talaga nung kagustuhan namin sa ginalaw namin. Medyo down, pero siyempre may next games pa kami so kailangan mahanap ulet namin ‘yung sarili namin.
“Marami pa kaming makakalaban.”