Rocky Roy Motol has been stellar in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's 4-0 start in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament.
In four games, the 21-year old Motol has been always the team's top scorer, starting his NCAA career with a 25-point eruption against Lyceum of the Philippines University, followed by 14 points against Jose Rizal University, 16 against San Sebastian College-Recoletos, and 18 against Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
At this point, Motol is now the league's fourth-best scorer with a total of 73 behind San Beda's Axel Van Book, Perpetual's Jefferson Marapoc, and Mapua's Ar-jay Ramos.
For him, however, he and the team just wants to put Benilde back to the Final Four after missing it for the past two seasons.
"N'ung nakaraan, wala sila sa Final Four kaya mas ginagalingan ko, ginagalingan namin lahat para maibalik namin sa Final Four," Motol told GMA News Online.
The Blazers, however, are not complacent especially with the long tournament ahead.
"'Di pa rin kami syempre kampante kasi bilog ang bola. Lahat ng tinuturo ni coach, dun kami magbabase and siyempre sa kondisyon ng katawan," he said.
Prior to joining Benilde, Motol was with the University of the East.
However, Alas Pilipinas and De La Salle University player Noel Kampton recommended that Motol move to the 2544 side of Taft Avenue.
"Inampon niya po ako simula nung pandemic," Motol said about Kampton.
Apparently, it was in a one day league where Motol and Kampton bonded.
"Nung pandemic kasi kasama ko si Rocky maglaro sa mga ODL (one day league) eh sabi ko parang may potensyal 'tong bata 'to. During that time, na kay Coach Arnold [Laniog] kami sa La Salle, ni-recommend ko na 'Coach, may player kami na si Motol.' Ayun pina-try out nila, nagustuhan nila sa Rocky," Kampton shared.
"Sobrang proud ako sa kanya and huwag lang siya magsawa matuto and makinig lang siya kay coach," he added.
Head coach Arnold Laniog, meanwhile, praised Motol's work ethic as the outside hitter also fills in the spot left by the recovering James Marasigan who had a shoulder injury.
"N'ung napunta sa Benilde, maganda ang work ethic, [sa] training all out, sa weights, very religious. 'Yun ang asset niya ngayon, lakas ng katawan niya plus nadevelop pa ang skills niya na nag-connect sa system na pinapatupad namin kaya naging mas effective siya," he said.
—GMA Integrated News
