Good coaches see talent. Great ones see vision.
That was exactly what the late volleyball coach Sammy Acaylar saw in Klint Mateo.
He did not just see a spiker. He saw a player who could run the offense, make smart decisions, and become the heart of the court for the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA ALTAs in the NCAA.
Mateo originally played as the team’s opposite hitter, a position he held when the Las Piñas crew last clinched a title in Season 99. That same season, however, marked the graduation of their original setter, JC Enarciso, leaving the team searching for a new playmaker.
Acaylar didn’t have to look far. Impressed by Mateo’s setting skills during training, the veteran tactician converted him into the team’s new setter for Season 100 as they launched their bid for a five-peat title.
"Season 99, opposite spiker pa ako tapos cinonvert lang ako ni coach Sammy kasi ga-graduate na ‘yung first setter namin, si JC Enarciso," Mateo told GMA News Online.
"Siguro nakita lang ako ni Coach Sam na nagse-set set ng bola tapos pinag-drills na niya ako ng setting. First time ko po maging setter. Wala akong history."
Two years since switching hats, Mateo has fully embraced his setter duties as the team seeks to regain Perpetual's lost glory in Season 101 following a lackluster campaign last year that saw them miss the Final Four altogether with a 10-8 record.
"Tinanggap ko na po nang buong-buo," he added.
With Mateo orchestrating the offense for the ALTAs, Perpetual has seen a resurgence this season.
They opened their campaign with two tough losses against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Jose Rizal University, raising doubts about whether this squad, laden with rookies and sophomores, could reach greater heights.
But the ALTAs have been proving the doubters wrong, winning their last five games, which included a four-set romp over defending champion Arellano University last Saturday as they improved to 5-2 in Group A.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
