Jose Rizal University head coach Mia Tioseco is looking at the positives in their NCAA Season 98 campaign despite a lackluster start for the Lady Bombers.
Tioseco said the morale is now high for JRU, especially after overcoming Emilio Aguinaldo College in five sets to finally barge to the win column after a 0-7 start.
“Syempre sobrang saya kasi matagal-tagal naming hinintay at pinaghirapan kaso sa end, medyo kinakapos kami parati,” Tioseco said after a grueling fove-setter on Friday.
“So buti na lang we came through this game and I’m very proud of the girls kasi at least lumabas sa kanila ‘yung matagal ko ng alam na kaya naman nila talaga.”
("Of course, we're so happy because we've waited quite a long time and we've worked hard but in the end, we always just fell short So it's good that we came through this game and I'm very proud of the girls. At least they were able to bring out what I've always known that they're capable of.")
Tioseco rued JRU’s endgame composure that has been costing them all season-long. But the long-time mentor said they will use this as a stepping stone for next season.
“I think it’s more of paano ba during clutch times, medyo nara-rattle sila, medyo nagpapanic kaagad more than ‘yung push mode,” she added.
“So ayun ‘yung kailangan ko, namin hanapan ng formula for next season. But I’ve always believed that they have it in them.”
("I think it's more of during clutch times, they got rattled, they would panic more than they would go into push mode... So that's what we need to find a formula for next season. But I've always believed that they have it in them.")
The tactician stressed the importance of her senior players in Riza Rose, Mae Ruiz, and team captain Syd Niegos who all have been lifting the squad right from the get-go.
Rose, according to Tioseco, is living up to the expectations so far especially after she had to adjust from moving to open spiker from middle blocker.
“Si Riza naman I believed in her from the beginning. Alam ko Syd, si Mae, at si Riza, ‘yung mga senior players, they’ve been carrying the team and si Riza bilib ako sa kanya kasi I shifted her from middle to open,” Tioseco shared.
“Because I knew Mae is a consistent open spiker and I needed one more na ka-angle ni Mae so I converted her and she lived up to the expectations.”
("Riza, I believed in her from the beginning. I know Syd, Mae, and Riza, the senior players, they've been carrying the team and Riza, I'm impressed because I shifted her from middle to open... Because I knew Mae is a consistent open spiker and I needed one more to pair with Mae so I converted her and she lived up to the expectations.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
