Petron middle blocker Mika Reyes is quickly forming a formiddable resumé.
Saturday, the Petron Blaze Spikers entered the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Cup Finals after sweeping Smart-Army. Petron made their eigth PSL Finals and gained the chance to add a sixth PSL title.
Reyes, who scored seven points within a balanced Petron offense against the Giga Hitters, can bring home her fourth PSL title — her third as a Blaze Spiker.
But the former DLSU Lady Spiker knows the road to a title is not clear cut. Just basing off their Invitational Cup campaign, the 24-year-old knows that plenty can still happen over thr span of a best-of-three series.
“Masaya, pero kasi nandoon pa rin ‘yung goal ng team,” thought Reyes after they swept Smart-Army. “Alam namin na everyone of us are working really hard to get a championship. Step-by-step lang talaga kailangan.
“Hindi kami pwede tumingin sa championship kung hindi kami titingin sa next few games.”
The 2016 PSA Miss Volleyball points to their elimination round loss to Generika-Ayala as the spark they needed to push through to the Finals.
“Mabilis kasi talaga ‘yung mga games, knockout games talaga. Kailangan, in a short span of time, buo na ‘yung chemistry ng team. Hindi kami pwedeng magpabaya, lalo na nitong semis,” she shared. “Magmula noong matalo kami ng Generika, nagising kami doon. Maganda ‘yung naging outcome after.
“Ngayon, alam naming walang room para magpabaya. Last two or three games na lang ‘to.”
Reyes is staring at a fourth Finals showdown with F2 Logistics, her former team with whom she won her first PSL title and still employs her collegiate coaches and teammates.
While the first meeting might have had affect on her, the two-year pro is now used to playing against her friends and mentors.
“If ever, fourth na namin magkikita sa Finals. Wala naman ng epekto sa akin. Professional lang talaga inside the court, outside the court magkakaibigan kami, same treatment pa rin talaga.”
