PGJC-Navy team captain Jack Kalingking has no regrets, knowing the depleted Sealions gave their all despite a grueling campaign in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
Kalingking expressed immense pride in his teammates for their resilience and determination, as Navy battled through the season-opening conference without several key players.
“Siguro yung masasabi ko sa team na naiwan ngayon, sa mga teammates ko, maganda pa rin naman yung pinakita nila,” said Kalingking, who made his return after missing the 2024 Invitational Conference due to basic training.
“Siguro, na-experience nila yung nasa first six na sila, lalo na sila Jacob, sila Jeric Caranguian, yung mga naiwan. Pinakita rin nila yung best nila para maibigay yung magandang laban,” he added.
Kalingking’s return sparked hope for the squad, raising expectations that they could bounce back from a seventh-place finish in the previous tournament. However, adversity struck early, with Joeven Dela Vega — the team’s top scorer — being sidelined after missing the first four games due to a lung condition.
Their struggles only worsened when team captain Greg Dolor, along with veterans Marvin Hairami and Omar Lioc, were pulled from the roster to undergo basic training — just as Kalingking had done the year before — as part of their promotion in the Navy.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
“Siguro this conference, hindi para sa’min,” Kalingking admitted. “Binigay naman namin yung best namin para sa mga teammates namin na nawala sa lineup. Like yung iba, nag-schooling, sila Greg Dolor, captain ball namin, sila Omar and Hairami.
“Yun, para kay Joeven din yung pinaglalaban namin sa laro. Then siguro para sa next conference, paghahandaan namin sa umpisa pa lang. Kasi yun nga, short kami ngayong conference,” he added.
The Sealions ultimately finished at the bottom of the six-team standings with a 1-9 record, marking their first last-place finish since 2016.
“Yes, this conference talaga parang hindi para sa’min, lalo na hindi kami nakapasok sa Final Four. Pero, yun pa rin, binigay pa rin namin yung best namin para mapakita sa mga nanonood at sumusuporta sa PGJC-Navy,” said the former national team libero.
Head coach George Pascua echoed Kalingking’s sentiments, praising his players for their perseverance despite the odds.
“Happy naman ako sa kanila despite na kulang talaga kami. Lumaban pa rin sila. Syempre I’m very proud sa team na kahit ganun ‘yung nangyari sa’min. Yun naman ang instruction sa kanila,” said the FEU great.
“No excuses na. Para ‘yung mga kasama nating nawala, sila mismo ma-inspire natin. Kahit wala sila, ‘yung pagkawala nila, nagagawan natin ng paraan.”
