By: Ohmer Bautista
Motolite’s new import Krystle Esdelle drew mixed reactions when she made her debut in the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference against the BanKo Perlas Spikers, Wednesday evening.
For one, the Perlas Spikers admitted that they were caught off guard when they saw the 6-foot-3 opposite spiker out of Trinidad and Tobago. Like the rest of the league, Motolite was expected to play with only one import in American reinforcement Channon Thompson, as Edina Selimovic was out for a week due to a bruised knee cap.
“Definitely, I got caught off guard,” BanKo import Kia Bright confessed.
“Nagulat kami kasi may bago palang import, hindi namin alam. We thought na si Thompson lang talaga ang import,” BanKo skipper Nicole Tiamzon added.
The sudden acquisition of the 34-year-old reinforcement did wonders for the youthful Motolite. Esdelle showed maturity and composure, which was most evident during the tight second set.
Tied 25-all, Esdelle kept Motolite’s hopes alive time and time again as she exchanged blows with Bright and Yasemin Yildrim in a prolonged set that ended 32-30.
Though BanKo had the last laugh after gutting out a hard-earned sweep, Motolite assistant coach Godfrey Okumu commended Esdelle for playing through fatigue and lack of rest.
“She hasn’t slept in twenty-four hours. I think she tried her best. We’d rather play her than let her stay in the bench,” the UP Fighting Maroons mentor said, referring to Esdelle who only arrived on Wednesday morning.
“If any player would come in from the plane and going to the game straight away, as a coach, I really give her respect.”
Now that Esdelle has a couple of days to finally rest and train with her teammates, Okumu has lofty expectations for their new import.
“She knows how to defend – she knows her zone well. I believe she will be an asset to this team.”
