Following a heartbreaking finals exit, Go For Gold-Air Force star Ran Abdilla was downcast.
A night that started with his coronation then ended in his team’s demise.
“Para sa akin, yung award na yan bonus na lang yan,” lamented Abdilla, following their Game Two loss against the Cignal HD Spikers.
“Kasi mas maganda para sa akin na mag-champion sana.”
It sent Air Force’s back-to-back hopes in the country’s first-ever league dedicated to men’s volleyball down the drain.
Despite dropping their first game of the best-of-three series, the two-time MVP was caught off-guard, as he did not expect his team to go down without a victory.
“Malungkot. Personally hindi ko inexpect na matalo kami ngayong araw na ‘to. Siguro napaghandaan talaga nila kami ngayong araw,” said the La Salle-Dasmarinas product.
Abdilla, who was crowned MVP before the game, converted only 13 hits on 35 attack attempts – far from his usual deadly form. The 6-foot-1 spiker scored a total of 17 points in the game to go along with 16 excellent receptions.
The 27-year-old native of Tawi-Tawi admitted that he played unlike himself, which he credited to the HD Spikers’ stellar defense.
“Ako, aminado ako medyo nag-off ako eh. Nabantayan ako ng mga blockers ng opponent namin, then yun nga, bwenas rin talaga sila,” said Abdilla.
With the wounds of defeat still fresh, Abdilla vows to get back on track, as he will now set his sights on defending the Jet Spikers’ Open Conference title this upcoming August.
“Mindset namin ngayon is mag-focus muna sa training; gawin lahat ng sistema na gusto ng mga coaches namin; and of course, hopefully makabawi kami,” he said.
“Wala naman kasi talagang wala nang magagawa eh, nangyari na. Sabi ni [coach Rhovyl Verayo], bawi na lang. Kailangan naming bumawi next conference.”
