San Beda University finally broke through in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball tournament and it seems things are now falling into place for the Lady Red Spikers.
After a winless first round, the Mendiola crew needed just two games in the second round to finally notch its first win in the tournament at the expense of San Sebastian College-Recoletos.
Just in time for the second round, Angel Habacon also returned from injury and the Lady Red Spikers and according to the sophomore, they are trying to 'break the chain' from whatever happened in the first round.
"Grabe po talaga, sabi ko 'yung mga trainings namin, ang gaan lang po. Super good vibes lang po talaga. Tapos, patience lang with each other kasi bagong sistema, bago lahat, bago pa ako. Like, two weeks pa ako nakapag-training talaga sa kanila," the returning Habacon said as they also adjusted to the system being implemented by new head coach Joshua Noda, who was appointed in the middle of the season.
"Ngayon po, parang sabi namin, let go. Like, break the chain. Sabi ng team namin ngayon, break the chain talaga. So, yun. Na-break talaga yung chain. Nakapanalo kami."
The win against San Sebastian, apparently, felt like 'deja vu' for the returning outside hitter.
"Kasi last year, first win din namin 'yung sa Sebastian and then 25 points din ako noon. Grabe, sobrang deja vu."
"Parang feel ko nakalaan talaga 'yun sa amin. Binigay talaga, finally, ni Lord sa amin. So, credit talaga kay Lord lahat po," added Habacon.
Good thing, Habacon also returned just in time as she felt helpless while the team was losing one game after the other in the first round.
"I feel helpless po talaga. I swear, gustuhin ko pumasok pero hindi po talaga kaya. Magre-recover pa po talaga ako. So kung papasok ako, baka mag-iba pa ang laro kasi hindi ko mabigay 'yung lahat ko," Habacon said about her recovery from her knee injury.
"So sa recovery ko naman po, ang dami po pong realization. Parang never po akong sumuko. Though, ang dami po talagang temptations, mga adversities po talaga na hinaharap ko nung nagre-recover ako. Pero nandun 'yung team, kahit anong nangyari, kahit nagpalit yung sistema, nandun pa rin. Nanatili po kami. Doon po ako kumuha ng lakas ng loob po."
For Noda, Habacon's return also helps San Beda's struggling campaign.
"Si Angel kasi para siyang backbone ng team namin. Iba ang appearance ni Angel sa team kasi 'yung emotion na ipinapakita niya during laro and pag nakaka-score, doon nabo-boost ang team namin talaga pag nakikita siyang ganon and nafo-follow siya ng teammates niya," said Noda.
With a 1-10 record, Noda hopes for the best with San Beda's remaining games.
"Positively siguro, kaya pa naman siguro kung tatrabahuhin kasi sobrang haba pa ng season, marami pa puwede mangyari," said Noda.
"Feeling ko meron pa namang chance. Positive lang din kami."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
