And the downhill slide continues for Laoag.
After a shocking loss against UP Lady Maroons this past Monday, the Laoag Power Smashers absorbed another loss into the hands of the league-leading UST Tigresses Wednesday night.
The thrilling affair between the Power Smashers and the Tigresses proved to be a classic one, as both squads went hard at each other, making it a five-set volleyfest. But despite the gallant stand the Ilocandia-based team displayed against the Tomasinas, they still fell short on sending themselves above .500.
With their second straight L, the Power Smashers are now outside of the 13th Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference’s top four with a 2-3 win-loss card.
Knowing how dangerous and composed the UST side is, Laoag head coach Nes Pamilar actually warned his players not to be complacent in facing the España-based Tigresses.
“Yun ang sabi ko sa kanila before ng warm-ups, na wag kayong masyadong magpa-easy easy dyan. Yang team na yan, matagal na magkakasama unlike sa’tin na nagkita-kita lang,” said Pamilar moments after their long huddle inside the dugout.
The former FEU head coach has been iterating multiple times that Laoag’s lack of preparation and familiarity have been the factors that pulls them aback in closing out games in their favor.
“Kulang kami sa preparation eh. Kumbaga hindi kami ganun ka-solid. Kung titignan mo ang tao, sa skills, malakas. Pero as a whole, as a team, hindi.”
“Kaya pag crucial na, dun na lumalabas [yung kawalan ng chemistry]. Lamang kami sa experience pero as a team na magkakasama, doon na natatalo,” the multi-titled coach explained.
But despite this turmoil happening to the Power Smashers, Pamilar is not on the brink to push the panic button — yet.
“Hindi pa naman siguro,” he quipped.
For them to address the mentioned issues, all that Pamilar hopes is for Laoag to have ample time to be with each other — as a team and as a single unit — together.
But they are having a hard time to do such, since majority of the players in the Power Smashers’ roster are still students. Chie Saet and Wenneth Eulalio are the only legitimate veterans in their line-up.
“Kailangan lang namin magkasama-sama sa training. Kasi kadalasan hindi nagaabot eh, katulad ngayon na final exams na nung iba. Ang laki ng problema namin sa schedule,” stressed Pamilar.
With schedule as another problem for the team, Laoag has made another sacrifice just to gel the team together as Pamilar decided to hold team practices starting Thursday until Sunday.
“Bukas nga [Thursday] walang pasok, kaya nagpa-ensayo na ‘ko hanggang Saturday and Sunday para dun namin mabuo yung pagkakasama-sama namin.”
As the Power Smashers will face tough squads in Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors and Bureau of Customs Transformers in their last two assignments, Pamilar remains upbeat with his team’s chances.
“Yun ang medyo balanse kami. Kumbaga pare-pareho kami na mga nabuo lang. Sa core ng team, halos pareho lang. Ang advantage lang nila is imports,” ended Pamilar.
