As the second set of Game Three the Pocari Sweat-Power Smashers semis series waged, Krystal Rivers rose from her seat and hurried to the Pocari Sweat dugout. A few minutes later, Rivers was in her Pocari Sweat jersey with a look of worry and daze.
After a week and a half of sitting on the sidelines, Rivers could finally play. Sort of.
PVL officials secured a letter from the FIVB addressed to LVPI acting President Peter Cayco, saying that Rivers has secured her ITC at 6:51pm, Thursday.
Rivers, however, wanted to see confirmation from her end. But when she tried to access the VIS, the system was down.
Despite assurances from the league, the 5-foot-11 spiker wanted to play it safe and did not enter the court against the Power Smashers.
The Lady Warriors eventually won the match and sealed a third straight trip to the PVL Finals.
Now, Rivers looms as a major factor that could ultimately swing the championship series in Pocari Sweat’s favor.
“Well, actually going to the game alam ko meron na (ITC).
“But siyempre unfair naman dun sa kabilang team kung last minute, magpapalit tayo ng player. So it’s just right na hindi na muna napalaro. But hopefully maging maganda ‘yung kalabasan ng game namin on Saturday,” revealed Pocari Sweat head coach Rommel Abella.
For her part, Rivers is still patient, knowing that her time to play will come.
“We were just looking for confirmation. I just want to be one hundred percent sure that about the transfer. I’m ready to play. The team is excited to get me out there. I’m excited for what we can accomplish,” Rivers, Alabama’s all time leading scorer, told Tiebreaker Times.
“Just seeing how much this means to the team and knowing how they all have their hearts set on this it’s been really good for me to see that. I’m a part of it in practice. But I wanna share the experience of playing with the team and being excited about winning something.”
Will Rivers be a factor? Myla Pablo definitely thinks so.
“Mas malakas pang pumalo talaga sa akin. Sa talon pa lang, talo na ako,” Pablo admitted.
“Pag pumapalo siya parang napapaisip ako na, ‘Ay, kailangan ko din galingan, kailangan ko din lakasan para matapatan siya’.”
