Former collegiate rivals and the two best setters in the country today, Kim Fajardo and Jia Morado are bridging their contrasting styles to set up the optimal offense for the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team.
Morado, the orchestrator of Ateneo’s and Creamline’s low-fast system, and Fajardo, the deadliest attacking setter in the country, are doing their best to establish a connection with each of their attackers in the team that is set to compete in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
The task, however, has been fickle, as training days have been scarce for the Nationals for the past month due to the two local club leagues’ schedules.
“If we were given enough time, mas okay sana ‘yung preparation. Pero, kung anuman ‘yung binigay sa amin na oras, parang mas long-term na lang ‘yung pagtingin namin dito as a team,” shared Morado, who steered the Creamline Cool Smashers to the 2018 PVL Reinforced Conference championship.
“Hindi naman matatapos sa Asian Games ‘yung pagte-training namin. After Asian Games, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ‘yung training namin. What we’re banking on is the experience na makukuha namin.”
“Siyempre, kailangan na lang magtiwala sa isa’t isa, lalo na sa coaches kasi alam nila kung paano kami papagalawin,” chimed Fajardo, who anchored the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers to the PSL Invitational Cup tiara.
“Adjust na lang kami sa program nila o sistema na gusto nila ipagawa sa amin. Sa Japan naman siguro, hindi siya puchi-puching training lang. Sana pagpablik namin, marami kaming matutunan and okay na ‘yung gelling.”
For both setters, getting enough reps with their spikers is crucial to their confidence heading into continental meet.
“I think mas makikita namin sa training sa Japan. Importante talaga sa amin ‘yung training doon kasi kumpleto kami,” pointed out Morado, a two-time UAAP champion with the Ateneo Lady Eagles.
“Sabi ni coach (Shaq Delos Santoa), skilled kami individually, ang importante na ma-build namin sa Japan is ‘yung team chemistry. Hindi pa namin alam kung paano ‘yung set ng iba, kung paano gumagalaw sa loob ng court ‘yung ibang teammates namin.”
“Feeling ko kailangan pa rin talaga patibayin. Importante pa rin ‘yung gelling sa loob ng court. Magaling nga kami individually, pero hindi kami nagge-gel. Kailangan pa nang mamraming oras din,” agreed Fajardo, the engine behind three of the DLSU Lady Spikers’ UAAP titles.
Asked about which of them should occupy the starting setter role, both emphasized their trust with whatever their coaching staff decides.
“I think it all boils down to who is more effective considering ‘yung mga spikers na ipapasok,” said the 23-year-old Morado. “Siyempre, different styles kami pero we’re trying to make it standard para lahat makapalo kung sinuman ipasok aa loob ng court. It’s up to the coaches naman kung sino ‘yung gagamitin.
“What we’re trying to do now is build a connection with our spikers.”
“Wala naman akong issue doon. Kahit sino sa amin, okay lang. Wala naman akong care sa sabihin ng tao, hindi ko naman dadamdamin. Coaches na bahala doon, tiwala kami sa kanila,” added the 24-year-old Fajardo.
Seeing that everything they do now is for flag and country, the former rivals see no qualms about which of them should start or finish games.
“We’re playing on the same court, not against each other naman. We ask each other kung paano ‘yung sets ng ibang spikers. Nagtutulungan kaming dalawa,” Morado expressed.
“Sa loob ng team, ang magiging competition mo na lang diyan eh ‘yung mga technique namin, sa skills namin,” Fajardo insisted.
“Wala namang ibang pagbabasihan. Hindi naman namin iniisip na dapat ungusan ko ‘to or what.”
