LIPA CITY, BATANGAS — The young squad from California Academy is definitely turning heads in the ongoing Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League.
Already four games in, California Precision Sports managed to put up gallant fights against professional teams such as F2 Logistics and the Tuguegarao-Perlas Spikers.
In fact, the team even threatened to take a set against reigning Premier Volleyball League champion Chery Tiggo in their match yesterday, before scoring its first-ever victory against another young squad in Baguio City, 25-14, 23-25, 11-25, 25-12, on Tuesday.
Without a doubt, the Antipolo-based spikers were well-prepared heading to the Champions League.
And with that, they have coach Jerry Yee to thank.
“Nung pumunta sa amin si Coach Jerry sinabihan niya agad kami kung sino yung mga makakalaban namin, tapos gaaano sila kalakas and then pinrepare nila kami,” said 16-year-old open hitter Casiey Dongallo. “Sila doctor Obet [Vital], coach Allan [Medoza], pinrepare nila kami kung hanggang saan yung kaya namin.
“Para yung laban hindi ganun kababa kung hindi makapagsabayan kami sa mga pro volleyball players.”
According to Jelaica Gajero, the player who earned praise from veteran middle blocker Aby Marano, Yee’s experience at the professional level helped the team a lot in the tournament.
“As he said po sa amin, he already told us po kung ano yung mga nandito sa game because marami nga po siyang experience sa mga teams, pro teams so sinabihan na po niya kami kung ano yung mga makakaharap namin,” bared the 17-year-old Gajero.
“So kailangan daw naming magprepare. Pinrepare naman po nila kami nang maayos.”
Dongallo put up a game-high 25 points off 24 attacks along with seven excellent digs in the win that put CPS at the fifth spot with two points through a 1-3 win-loss standing while Gajero notched 16 markers built on 13 attacks, two aces, and a block.
CPS looks to end the SMART-backed tournament on a high against Petro Gazz tomorrow.
