ILOCOS NORTE -- PLDT setter Rhea Dimaculangan and head coach Roger Gorayeb trust the process of their young team even after placing seventh in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
The Power Hitters were the first team to be eliminated dropping their first six matches but they recovered and ended their bubble campaign on a high note with three straight victories.
"Naniniwala talaga ako trust the process. Kasi hindi rin naging madali yung pinagdaanan ng team namin like ilang talo, yung morale namin sobrang baba," said Dimaculangan after a straight-set win over Cignal on Friday.
"Naging challenge sa amin yung last three games, pinaghirapan din naman namin at saka pinaghandaan namin para sa sarili namin at sa team namin."
PLDT departed Laoag on Saturday morning with Sta. Lucia.
Although they missed the semifinals in their first professional stint, PLDT head coach Roger Gorayeb was convinced with their strong finish that promises a bright future.
"Talagang bata pa talaga sila, ngayon pa lang kumbaga sa salitang kalye ngayon pa lang kami nagkakaamuyan e. Sana nga napaaga pero maganda yung future kasi puro bata sila," said Gorayeb. "Sana lahat maging pasensyoso muna sa team na ito kasi hindi naman ganun kadali mag form ng team tapos dalawang buwan practice pero ito na e ang ganda nang nilalaro nila e kaya masaya ako."
Gorayeb said they will rest first while the NCR is placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine but once the situation improves, they'll go back to work.
The 30-year old setter had a great time leading a young core bannered by Isa Molde, Jorelle Singh, Eli Soyud, and Chin-chin Basas.
"Mababait naman sila tsaka madaling mapasunod kasi nga siyempre mga bata," said Dimaculangan. "Minsan lang di mo maiwasan na parang natatakot din sila sa akin dahil yung age gap namin medyo malaki pero okay naman lahat madali naman silang pakisamahan."
She's also honored to be part of volleyball's comeback after more than a year of inactivity due to the pandemic.
"Sobrang thankful ako kasi after one and a half year ngayon lang ulit kami nakapaglaro ng volleyball," Dimaculangan said. "Super nagpapasalamat din kami sa suporta na binibigay sa amin ng PLDT management kasi despite the pandemic andyan pa rin sila sinuportahan yung bubble training namin hanggang sa makarating kami dito."
Dimaculangan hopes to pick up from where they left off in the next PVL tournament.
"Looking forward kami sa next conference. Hopefully, meron para mas maganda yung maging performance namin kumbaga kahit papaano yung morale namin mataas entering next conference," she said. (AL)
