Army-Black Mamba assistant coach Rico de Guzman said that he is seeing flashes of Tina Salak in Lady Troopers playmaker Ivy Perez following the team's four-set victory against the short-handed Choco Mucho, Tuesday.
However, the seasoned tactician admitted that Perez still needs to fine-tune some aspects of her game to emulate the Army legend.
"Parang nakikita ko sa kaniya si Tina Salak pero marami pang pagdadaanan si Ivy," said De Guzman.
"Yung nanggaling sa amin si Tina, gusto ko ring ipaano sa kaniya na malakas yung team ng Army, malakas yung spikers, siya yung playmaker namin talaga. Lagi kong inuulit ulit sa kaniya na pagaralan mo lang Ivy, 'pag napagaralan mo yung kalaban natin kung saan ibibigay yung bola talaga, kay Jovelyn [Gonzaga], sa quicker natin o mapa-open 'man basta pagaraalan mo lang mananalo kami," he continued.
Salak is considered as one of the best setters that the Philippines has ever seen.
In the collegiate scene, she steered Far Eastern University to two UAAP titles. Salak also won four medals in the Southeast Asian Games on top of two Shakey's V-League and three Philippine Super Liga titles.
The 45-year-old setter is currently the head coach of the FEU Lady Tamaraws. She is also serving as an assistant in the Philippine national women's volleyball team.
Understandably, Perez said that there is indeed pressure on her part to follow Salak's footsteps, but she is definitely not one to back down from a challenge.
"Tiya-tiyagain. Nakaka-pressure siya in a way kasi Tina Salak yun e, legend yun e. Sabi ko nga kanina hindi kayang pantayan pero kayang sabayan," said the former Petro Gazz playmaker.
Perez fired nine points against the Flying Titans on top of 27 excellent sets and seven digs. Prior to this match, the 31-year-old setter had 10 points and 21 excellent sets in the win against Petro Gazz.
"Superb e, may mga lapses pero kaya i-recover kasi merong nagga-guide. Nagwawatak-watak per yung goal namin isa lang e so 'di siya mahirap i-align e," said Perez.
"Nakakataas ng morale pero hindi pa rin enough e. Talagang kakapit at kakapit ako sa kanila kasi hindi ko yun magagawa kung hindi dahil sa kanila.
