Marian Buitre played her best game of the conference on Saturday, keeping Petro Gazz in contention for a spot in the semifinals in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference.
Filling in for middle blocker Remy Palma, Buitre proved to be a formidable force above the net, steering the Angels to a 25-18, 17-25, 25-22, 32-30 victory over Akari at the Philsports Arena.
“Syempre, masaya and medyo overwhelming kasi nga, tapos na dapat, tapos nag-extend pa,” said the 26-year-old former UP standout, who delivered the game-clinching ace that breathed life into Petro Gazz’s playoff dreams.
“Medyo ‘di rin kasi binigay nang madali sa amin ng Akari, kaya overwhelming siya. Mostly masaya, so ayun, may chance pa sa semis.”
Buitre finished with a team-high 22 points, recording 16 attacks, four blocks, and two aces to power the Angels to their second-straight win, placing them in solo fifth place with a 6-4 win-loss record.
Petro Gazz head coach Timmy Sto. Tomas was pleased to see Buitre, who played as both a middle blocker and opposite hitter this conference, make the most of the opportunity handed to her.
“As a team naman, alam namin yung role ng bawat isa. Marian knows her role sa team so minsan ginagawa namin siyang opposite, minsan ginagawa namin siyang middle. Pero yun nga, I’m very happy na in-embrace niya yung role na ‘yun,” said the first-year head coach.
“Minsan for sure, frustrating ‘yan kasi ‘di mo alam kung ano ba talagang gusto mong gawin sa’yo, but then very thankful kasi in-embrace niya yung role niya na yun, and kapag binibigyan siya ng chance na maglaro, pinapakita naman niya na kaya niyang gampanan yung roles na binibigay sa kanya.”
For her part, Buitre said that she just stuck to the coaching staff’s game plan against the Chargers and embraced the role that was given to her for this game.
“We stuck to the game plan and nga, sabi ko kanina, ginagawa ng Akari yung ano nila, yung trabaho nila. ‘Di naman binigay lang samin, so yung mindset lang namin is mag-stick kami sa game plan tapos mag-aadjust kami from there,” said the 5-foot-8 spiker.
“Ever since college, yun naman din yung role ko. Minsan open, minsan opposite, minsan middle. Hindi naman ako ilalagay ng coach don kung hindi sila nagtitiwala sa akin,” added the former BaliPure spiker.
“Para sakin kasi, mindset ko every training na ‘wag kong kakalimutan, kunwari opposite ako ngayon or middle ako, ‘wag kong kakalimutan na may chances na pwede akong mag-middle, so laging ready lang.”
