Lyceum of the Philippines University head coach Cromwel Garcia has always put his trust in his primary setter Venice Puzon.
That's why when the reigning best setter had the game in her hands during their knockout stepladder semifinals against University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, Garcia knew she would get the job done.
Puzon scored a game-winning ace against Perpetual's libero Marian Andal, who could not handle the strong service as the Lady Pirates completed the four-set romp.
"Honestly speaking, nung siya na 'yung magse-serve, alam ko na mananalo na kami. 'Yun 'yung trust na meron ako sa kanya na pagsalpak niya do'n, sabi ko panalo na kami," Garcia said.
"Kaya hindi na ako nagalaw e, kasi alam kong kaya namin. Siya 'yung pinakamalaki 'yung role sa amin."
("Honestly speaking, when it was her turn to serve, I knew we were winning. That's the trust I have in her that when she was put in that position, I said, we would win... It's why I couldn't move, because I knew we had the chance. She has the biggest role on our team.")
For her part, Puzon said she just maximized the opportunity to grab the win with Lyceum up by one point, 25-24. Prior to that, Perpetual was down by three late in the set, 23-20, before errors from the Lady ALTAs cost them the game.
"Parang inisip ko na lang na ito na 'yung opportunity na mapunta sa amin 'yung Finals and talagang ginrab ko na, binigay ko na 'yung best ko. Kung kaya kong pahirapan 'yung kalaban," she shared.
("I put it in my mind that this was our opportunity to get to the Finals and I just grabbed it and gave it my best. If I could make it hard on the opponent.")
Garcia added that Puzon plays a huge role in the team and that her presence in their best-of-three finals series against the defending champion De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will be a big lift.
"Sobrang laking bagay na andiyan siya kasi we have something in common, pareho kaming setter, pareho kami ng kumpiyansa sa sarili, and pareho kami mag-isip kaya napapadali 'yung trabaho."
("It's such a big thing that she is there because we have something in common, we're both setters, we both have the same belief in ourselves, and we think the same so it makes it easier.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
