BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — When Motolite disbanded early this year, Isa Molde was left with no squad heading to the first-ever professional conference of the Premier Volleyball League.
A few days after Motolite’s decision to let go of all of their players, Molde’s phone rang. On the other line was PLDT head coach Roger Gorayeb.
“Sobrang thankful ko kay coach kasi hindi ko alam kung san ako pupunta dati tapos madami pang nangyari for the past few months so hindi ko talaga alam,” said the 22-year-old Molde, who had to forgo her final year in University of the Philippines to join the PLDT.
“Sobrang naging thankful talaga ako kay coach kasi nagtiwala siya sa akin. Ang laki ng tiwala niya sa amin.”
Molde’s career under Gorayeb, though, suffered a tumultuous start.
With most of its key players bolting to different squads, PLDT was left with a group of youngsters — a team that has an average age of 24.4. Their oldest player is 30-year-old Rhea Dimaculangan.
The inexperience definitely showed as the squad suffered six-straight painful losses to start its PVL campaign.
But despite being already out of playoff contention, Molde made sure to repay the decorated tactician’s faith in her through a breakthrough win against Perlas,25-22, 25-20, 25-21, at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center.
The 22-year-old pride of Catmon, Cebu finished with a game-high 15 points along with eight excellent receptions in the win that pushed the Power Hitters’ card to 1-6.
“Sobrang happy kasi si coach sobra yung tiwala niya sa players nya. Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm yung ganung coach,” expressed the 2018 PVL Collegiate Conference Finals MVP after the win.
“Nung una kasi alam mo yung lumalaban kami pero kulang talaga. Siguro ito na yung start ng bagong kami. Kasi nangangapa pa kami bago yung teammates mo. Hindi naman basta basta magagawa yung connection e.”
With two games left on their slate, Molde and the rest of PLDT will look to make the most out of it.
Moreover, the 5-foot-7 outside hitter vowed that if they will go down, they will go down swinging — just for Coach Gorayeb.
“Wala naman ng mawawala samin. Lalaban na lang talaga kami.”
