Down 2-1, Lyceum of the Philippines University dug down deep to somehow pull off the win against Mapua University as the Lady Pirates kicked off their NCAA Season 98 campaign on the right foot.
And head coach Cromwel Garcia said he never lost faith in his wards, even when the odds weren't in their favor, especially in the fourth set.
"Actually, hindi talaga ako nag-doubt. Sabi ko nga ang tatalo lang sa amin ay sarili namin, hindi kalaban. Kasi I know them very well sa tagal na ng pagsasama namin," Garcia said on the heels of their 25-20, 16-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-5 victory on Tuesday.
"I know kung kailan kami bibitaw sa hindi e. The way na naglaro sila kanina, alanganin kami nung fourth set but andoon pa rin 'yung hope ko na hindi ako bibitawan ng mga bata na 'to."
"'Yung trust namin sa isa't-isa sobrang laki."
("Actually, I never doubted. I've said that the only way we lose is if we beat ourselves. I know them very well with how long we've been together... I know if we will give up and I know when we won't. The way they played today, we were in danger in the fourth set but the hope was still there that the players wouldn't give uo... We have a lot of trust in each other.")
Lyceum couldn't pull away initially in the fourth set with the Lady Cardinals' eagerly seeking a potential four-set victory. But thanks to the likes of Johna Dolorito, Jewel Maligmat, and Jaja Tulang, Lyceum was able to force a winner-take-all fifth set.
Then it was just all them in the final frame with the troika powering a 9-0 closing run en route to the win.
Garcia said the hard-fought victory could be a measurement of how far they can go in the season.
"Honestly, this is a big game for us kasi dito namin madedetermine kung hanggang saan 'yung kaya nila e," the tactician said.
"The way na naglaro sila kanina, I think malayo ang mararating ng mga batang 'to."
("Honestly, this is a big game for us because this is where we determine how far the team can go... The way they played, I think they can go far.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
