Coming into Game One of the UAAP Season 79 Finals, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles had barely faced resistance. They had swept the elimination round for the first time in program history and were primed to dominate their fourth Finals meeting with the National University Bulldogs.
But NU had other plans. The spikers from Jhocson gave Ateneo a run for their money and even took a 2-1 sets lead. The defending champions had to rally and evade a late spurt from NU to take Game One by the slimmest of margins.
A quick glance at the stats sheet would lead one to believe that three-time MVP Marck Espejo was the game’s star as his 29 points pop out the page.
But according to NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin, Ateneo setter Ish Polvorosa had caused the most chaos for his team.
“Kailangan namin ma-stop ‘yung pag-iisip ng setter nila [Polvorosa]. Alam mo, ‘yung setter talaga ang nagdadala sa kanila,” Alinsunurin said after his team took the loss.
“‘Yung setter nila kahit pangit ‘yung receive o ‘yung depensa nila, ‘yung setter pa ‘rin ang nagbibigay ng buhay sa kanila. Ang problema talaga namin is ‘yung setter ng kalaban. ‘Yung Espejo, nandiyan na ‘yan. Gagawa at gagawa talaga ‘yan.”
On his part, Polvorosa was flattered to receive compliments from Alinsunurin, a former National Team mainstay.
“Coach Dante is a really renowned player so that coming from someone like him, siyempre nakakataba ‘rin ng puso. At the end of the day, kapag kino-commend ka ng kahit sino, you take it in a positive way. Lahat ‘yun, kahit negative man, you take it positively,” the Cavite native responded.
Polvorosa, who tossed 60 excellent sets, in Game One, explained that it has always been his responsibility to be a vocal presence inside the court.
“Actually, ‘yun ‘yung pinatong na responsibility sa akin ni coach ever since I came into the team. Coming into this match, nandoon talaga ‘yung tiwala sa akin ni coach and ng teammates ko so pinakalat ko lang ‘yung trust na bingay sa akin,” the fourth-year playmaker said.
“When it comes to managing the fluidity of the team, mas in-entrust ni coach sa akin. Since Karl [Baysa] is the team captain, he has to be more vocal talaga. Then again, wala na ‘rin pong bago sa amin. Si Tony [Koyfman] na lang ang bago sa amin. So we’re all veterans na, kung tutuusin. As a setter, responsibility ko siguro talaga maging leader pero nakakatuwa lang kasi alam mong veterans na kayong lahat and you’ve been playing together for as much as three years already.”
But it does help to have a spiker at Espejo’s lofty level at his corner when the going gets tough.
“It’s a blessing (to be teammates with Espejo). When you’re doubting talaga as a setter and you have an ace spiker like Marck Espejo, iba talaga kahit may iba kaming veterans sa team.
“Alam mong kahit papaano, kapag nagda-doubt ka, kapag nagwo-worry ka, iba talaga ‘yung relief and confidence. Kahit naman when we started, ganoon na siya,” Polvorosa said about his batch-mate.
In Game Two, the Blue Eagle can clinch their third title. Polvorosa is confident they can get it done on Saturday.
“Lagi namang sinasabi sa amin ni coach na we do not win on just skills, it’s all about who wants it more, who has the heart, and most importantly, ‘yung pinanghahawakan namin sa team is ‘yung mind namin as players inside the court,” the reigning Best Setter said.
“We don’t just win games because we’re strong and skillful, pero andoon na ‘din ‘yung paggamit ng mind games.”
