Rhodson Du-ot and Far Eastern University-DN Steel had little time to dwell on their V-League heartbreak, as the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference presented the Tamaraws with a new challenge and an opportunity to learn from their disappointment.
Still stinging from their Finals collapse against National University, Du-ot and the Tamaraws knew they had to put the setback behind them quickly and refocus on the task at hand.
Du-ot admitted that the Finals loss was difficult to shake off but stressed the importance of moving forward.
“Siguro, noong unang mga isang araw, parang masakit. Pero kailangan magtrabaho pa kasi ’di puwedeng pupunta kami sa Spikers’ Turf na dala namin ’yung sakit ng V-League,” Du-ot said.
“Ayun, kailangan naming pagtrabahuhan talaga.”
(C) Spikers Turf Images
Rather than allowing the defeat to weigh him down, the up-and-coming setter is treating their Spikers’ Turf campaign as an opportunity to improve and ensure that the same costly mistakes do not happen again.
Du-ot also believes that competing against more seasoned players will be crucial to his development, especially as he prepares to take on a bigger role for FEU in the UAAP following the departures of fellow setters Ariel Cacao and Benny Martinez.
“Siguro, parang malaking opportunity talaga para sa ’min na makatapat namin ’yung mga kuya namin. Doon kami matututo papuntang UAAP,” he said.
Du-ot showed encouraging signs of that growth on Saturday, orchestrating the Tamaraws’ offense in a 25-23, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of AEP-Cabstars to open their Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference campaign at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
He finished with 14 excellent sets as FEU’s offense clicked on all cylinders. And his performance allowed the Tamaraws to find their rhythm and execute seamlessly in the dominant 64-minute victory.
FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo sees the Spikers’ Turf campaign as a valuable opportunity for the Tamaraws to bounce back from adversity and learn from their setbacks, as they continue growing as a team ahead of the UAAP.
“Pinakamaganda ’yung moment na nanggaling kami sa baba. Tapos ngayon, ’yung moment na may panibago ulit na tournament na, may misyon na kailangan naming mag-focus ulit,” said Orcullo.
“So, lagi nating sinasabi sa kanila na doon sa moment na ’yon, ’yung damdamin natin, dapat medyo itabi muna natin. Kailangan mag-focus tayo sa kung ano ’yung present na nangyayari sa tournament natin ngayon.”
