Michelle Cobb knew going into the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball Tournament that she was going to be put under intense scrutiny after replacing La Salle’s famed setter Kim Fajardo.
The 18-year-old’s journey hit its lowest low against the Adamson Lady Falcons as she struggled to steeer the Lady Spikers’ offense, resulting in their second loss of the season.
La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus was immensely critical of his playmaker after their loss to the Lady Falcons.
He was, however, satisfied in the type of attitude Cobb showed in their biggest match of the season, a Finals rematch against the Ateneo Lady Eagles.
Cobb tossed 22 excellent sets and scored six points in their win against the Lady Eagles. Most importantly, she showed the spunk expected of a Lady Spiker.
“Well sabi ko kay Michelle noong nanalo tayo noong mga previous game natin, gusto mong manalo. Pero sabi ko, nitong mga natalo tayong mga games, hinayaan mo na matalo tayo, sabi kong ganoon,” De Jesus shared.
“Kasi ikaw ang piloto ng team na ‘to, so kung saan mo dadalhin ‘yung team, ikaw ‘yun. Magiging relaxed ‘yung team kung halimbawa, relaxed ‘yung piloto. Kung may direction, at alam noong team, so ayun yun, relaxed ‘yung mga pasahero mo.
“So ‘yun ang sinabi ko sa kanya. Kung relaxed ka, relaxed ‘yung team. Pag nag-panic ka, magpapanic ‘yung team. Which is, yung first two sets, andoon eh. Andoon ‘yung sabi ko na kalmado, so nito na lang third set, nakita natin na medyo malayo, tapos eventually sa huli, walang panapos,” the 10-time UAAP champion coach furthered. “So ‘yun ang problema. Sabi ko sa kanya, dito ka kukuha ng lakas ng loob pagdating ng end game. So hindi pa rin naka-survive. Hindi naka-survive.”
Cobb knows that she still has a lot to show.
“It’s me na kasi e, it’s myself, kasi my teammates passed din like defense, receive and everything. What I’ve been trying to work on this whole week was really trying to work on myself, you know, being emotionally stable kasi parang I’ve come to this point na I can’t depend kasi I have to carry myself,” the sophomore said.
“So ‘yun siguro throughout the season I just wanna have zero self doubts kasi nagawa ko na before so I can do it.”
If anything, the sophomore is happy that her coach still trusts her no matter how poorly she plays.
“Kasi I know coach he trusts me as in 100 percent, he makes me feel na yun nga full trust siya sakin. Siguro sa part ko na kailangan ko ifully understand na ako nga yung driver ng team,” the 5-foot-4 setter expressed.
“So yun he makes me feel naman na he trusts me and I’m forever thankful for that.”
