Michelle Cobb may be a young setter compared to her contemporaries in the 2019 PSL All Filipino Conference, but one cannot question her capability to command F2 Logistics.
Cobb has been a key cog in the Cargo Movers’ dominant run in the tourney. Even without Kim Fajardo, who’s still recovering from a finger injury she sustained earlier this year, the offense of F2 Logistics hasn’t lost much of its edge.
Though she knows that playing as the primary setter of the team is heavily ladened with pressure, the 20-year-old Cobb uses it as a form of motivation.
“Being the setter is a very heavy role,” she said.
“I guess, the pressure is what makes you want to work better, it makes you want to work harder.”
Hard work, however, doesn’t always guarantee impeccable performances. Just like any other player, Cobb has had her fair share of difficulties.
For one, when the Cargo Movers flirted with disaster when they faced Generika-Ayala last Saturday, the 5-foot-5 setter had a hard time churning out the offense. She gave away a string of costly errors, and at times, would misplace her tosses due to miscommunication with her attackers.
But having drawn strength from her setback, Cobb regained her bearings in a straight-set win over Marinerang Pilipina on Tuesday. She put seven of her teammates on the scoring column en route to 18 excellent sets on top of four points.
“Learning lesson naman yung experience ko last game kasi I was able to adjust what I had to adjust in this game,” the La Salle orchestrator said.
“I’m thankful din last Saturday’s game happened kasi I wouldn’t have adjusted if that didn’t happen.”
Cobb also expressed her gratitude for Fajardo, who has been willing to lend an ear and provide pointers for the youthful setter.
“Important factor din siya kasi I get to rant, I get to vent all my insights and parang questions, ganun,” she confided.
“I’m really thankful for ate Kim kasi I feel like I’m not alone.”
But aside from the tall order of generating the offense in lieu of the six-time PSL Best Setter, Cobb has also been working on tapping the maximum potential of Kalei Mau.
Mau, who, in the wake of United Volleyball Club’s disbandment, opted to join F2 Logistics days prior to the All-Filipino tourney, has always been vocal about the tedious job of setting plays for her.
But with perseverance, Cobb is starting to get a good grasp of how to utilize not just the Fil-Hawaiian spiker but also the rest of her teammates.
“Everyday, as the season extends, parang it’s a process of us connecting. Like with same spikers naman, Kalei is really patient din and super easy to be with,” Cobb said.
“Relationship-wise, nagja-jive kami and everyone in the team. That’s a bonus din in terms of building our connection.”
