Jonah Sabete battled through cramps before hammering down crucial hits that allowed Petro Gazz to run away with a four-set victory over PLDT in Game One of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Saturday night.
Sabete was one of the three Angels who suffered from muscle cramps in the fourth set, but the 29-year-old outside hitter from Negros Occidental powered through, scoring six points in a crucial 12-3 run in the fourth frame that completely fended off the High-Speed Hitters.
She finished with a team-high 18 points on 14 attacks, three kill blocks, and an ace to spearhead the Angels’ 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 win over PLDT at the Philsports Arena.
“Laban pa rin. Hindi na bago sa akin yung cramps kasi nangyayari talaga bawat player, hindi lang din naman ako,” said Sabete as teammates Grethcel Soltones and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas also suffered from cramps.
“Syempre kung nasasaktan ka, kailangan mong i-push pa rin yung sarili mo at labanan mo yung sakit.”
Sabete said that the team’s eagerness to win and return to the finals is what helped them get over the cramps and finish off the High-Speed Hitters’ side.
“Yung kagustuhan talaga [namin mag-champion] yung number one na kinakapitan [namin]. Yung kagustuhan ng bawat isa na makapasok sa finals,” added the former Sta. Lucia standout.
Despite her impressive performance on the big stage, Sabete said that she isn’t satisfied yet with the way she played against PLDT and vowed to be more consistent with her timings moving forward.
“Actually, ‘di pa ko pa masyadong nakikita yung sarili ko na… kasi iba sa training e, parang sa game iba rin ako. Parang nakukulangan pa ako sa sarili ko talaga like yung timing ko wala pa talaga,” said Sabete.
“Siguro yun talaga rin yung kailangan kong trabahuhin, syempre sabi kasi ng mga teammates ko and coaches kapag nasa harap ka kailangan mo ring mag-trabaho talaga. So yun lang yung mindset ko, timing saka trabaho.”
