ANGELES, PAMPANGA — Heading into their 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season match-up against General Santos-Burlington, the Bicol-LCC Stores Volcanoes were downcast.
The Volcanoes had just come off arguably their worst outing of the season, falling to lowly squad Rizal-Xentro Mall last Thursday.
Needing only one win to secure their place in the playoff picture, Bicol faltered against the Golden Coolers and took a 77-79 loss, leaving their post-season aspirations still hanging in the balance.
To show his disappointment with the outcome, Volcanoes head coach Mon Kallos skipped their practice the next day.
“Sa totoo lang hindi ako gumawa ng game plan today kasi hindi ako umattend ng practice namin before the game,” shared Kallos.
“Sinabi ko sa kanila, masama ang loob ko na hindi naman tayo dapat natalo doon.”
It ended up being a wake-up call to his players. Bicol fended off a late-rally from the Pamboy Raymundo-led General Santos to win, 65-63, at the Angeles University Foundation here.
Maybe it was the Volcanoes’ way of apologizing to their mentor.
Either way, with the victory, the LCC Stores-backed squad pushed their standing to 16-14 in the South Division. More importantly, the Volcanoes have punched their ticket to the playoffs, leaving the last playoff spot for Cebu and Batangas to fight over.
“Kaya sobrang saya namin lahat na nakuha namin ‘to sa Gen San. Hindi ko naman na sila dapat pagalitan kasi alam kong kaya nila eh. Pinrove nila na talagang magaling silang team, magaling na players,” said Kallos.
“Tingin ko ‘yun ang naging wake-up call nila. Besides, wala akong pre-game talk. Nagsalita lang ako ‘yung nararamdaman ko towards doon sa game namin, ‘yung last game namin.”
Upon seeing his players regain their “killer instinct”, Kallos believes that the whole squad can sustain it in time for the post-season wars.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, grabe ang paniniwala ko at respeto ko sa galing ng team na ‘to. Kaya sabi ko kahit sinong kalaban natin kaya nating talunin. Oo, tingin ko hanggang playoffs na ‘to.”
In other games, Nueva Ecija played the upset role anew, nipping playoff-bound Makati-Super Crunch, 80-74; meanwhile, Pampanga got another momentum-building victory at the expense of Bacolod-Master’s Sardine, 82-65.
Story by Jonash Dannug
Photo by Nicks Hernandez
