After losing its first two games, PLDT finally scored its first win in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference with a straight-sets win over BaliPure.
It was a breath of fresh air for Mika Reyes, who admitted that she felt frustrated after the team’s back-to-back losses against Creamline and Petro Gazz.
“Personally, nakaka-frustrate rin talaga kasi entering [the tournament] isang previous champion yung nakalaban namin. So mataas din talaga nilalaro nila at buo talaga sila,” said the former Sta. Lucia middle blocker.
“Pero hindi rin naman reason yun para hindi kami mag-perform. And kailangan din namin abutin kung ano yung level ng mga kalaban namin para mas mabuo pa yung team namin,” she added.
Still, despite the consecutive losses, Reyes remained optimistic about the High Speed Hitters’ campaign. She chooses to focus on the positive things that emerged from the back-to-back defeats.
The losses have put them at the bottom of the Pool A standings after the second week.
According to the La Salle product, the losses allowed the team to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. It also allowed them to adjust a few things all while strengthening their chemistry.
“Sa totoo lang, medyo hassle. Kasi siyempre parang two consecutive games and then coming to this game at some point… Personally, siyempre parang nagda-doubt na parang hindi pa rin kami nakakapanalo,” said Reyes, who only had a combined 12 points in PLDT’s first two assignments.
“Pero I think it’s a good thing din naman na nangyari yun kasi yung mga adjustments namin, ang dami pa rin talaga naming kailangan baguhin, i-adjust, lalo na yung chemistry ng team namin,” she added.
Reyes finished 11 points off seven attacks, three blocks, and an ace in the 25-20, 26-24, 25-22 win over the Water Defenders. The victory allowed the team to secure the third seed in Pool B.
With the group stage now in the past, PLDT is gearing up for the quarterfinals. There, they will take on either F2 Logistics or Choco Mucho.
“Whether kung sino naman yung makakalaban, paghahandaan din naman talaga namin. Kasi mataas din yung pinapakitang laro nung mga nasa kabilang bracket. So hindi kami puwedeng maging complacent lang, so kailangan pa rin mag-push pa rin lalo na sa training.”
