Making headlines with their off-season signings, the Foton Tornadoes looked poised to take over the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Cup.
The Tornadoes, however, have struggled.
On opening day, Foton succumbed in straight sets to perennial contenders F2 Logistics Cargo Movers. On Tuesday night, the Tornadoes were calmed in five sets by a determined Generika-Ayala side.
Group A was touted as the “group of death” mostly because of Foton’s inclusion. The Tornadoes have, so far, done most of the dying in the group.
Their struggles, according to ace Jaja Santiago, have stemmed mostly from their lack of on-court familiarity and communication.
“Hindi pa consistent ‘yung communication namin. Pag napupush ka ng kalaban, mas lalong tumatahimik eh. Imbis na masaya, medyo nara-rattle,” Santiago explained.
“Kahit naman noong first game namin ang kulang namin na nakikita ko is connection sa loob ng court. Marami ngang bago sa amin. Kunyare, may dumighay diyan o may umutot diyan, alam mo na kung sino. Kumbaga, sa loob ng court, alam mo na may katabi ka na alam mo kung ano ‘yung kilos niya,” the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball Most Valuable Player furthered.
“Nagkakapaan pa eh. Mahahalata mo naman may mga alinlangan pa sa galaw.”
For Santiago, the addition of Bea De Leon has not been the problem. She stresses the teams overall bonding.
“Si Bea sobrang laking tulong niya sa amin kasi hindi siya ‘yung tahimik na tao eh. Grabe ‘yung encouragement niya sa bawat isa,” shared the former NU Lady Bulldog.
“Ang problema is hindi pa namin nahahanap ‘yung koneksyon, ‘yung bond na kailangan namin sa loob ng court. Outside naman maganda ‘yung bonding. Hindi pa siguro alam ng bawat isa kung paano mai-apply ‘yung sa loob ng court.”
The biggest underlying trend over Foton’s first two games has been Santiago’s individual brilliance and her teammates’ stunningly sub-par production. The 6-foot-5 Santiago acknowledges that she can’t get Foton out of the hole by herself.
“Para sa akin, ang volleyball hindi siya individual sport, team sport siya. Kailangan namin magcontribute lahat and magstep-up lahat sa mga susunod naming game,” she declared. “Nagtitiwala naman ako sa teammates ko na mare-realize nila na kailangan sila at magkaroon sila ng confidence. Kung hindi nila aakuin ‘yung tiwala ng coaches and teammates namin, wala talagang mangyayare.
“Nakikita din talaga namin na nara-rattle and nawawalan ng focus and confidence ‘yung bawat isa.”
