Even after clinching the Most Valuable Player award, Zam Nolasco refuses to lose focus on the real goal.
The veteran middle blocker was named the top individual player in the NCAA Season 101 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday, hours before De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s must-win Game 2 showdown against Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the finals.
She had to shake off that MVP high fast as the team plunged into a do-or-die battle, and Nolasco did just that, torching the Lady Knights with a game-high 19 points to help the Lady Blazers force a winner-take-all Game 3 on Friday.
"Malaki rin pong recognition ‘yun for me as a player and parang hindi ko naman siya masyadong pine-personal kasi hindi pa naman po tapos ‘yung trabaho namin this season," Nolasco said.
"Sobrang nakaka-boost ng confidence kasi ngayon lang po namin sila natalo this season and sa finals pa, so malaking reward po ‘yun sa amin para sa Game 3."
Nolasco and the Lady Blazers, however, were put to the test, especially in the nail-biting final stretch.
Maintaining their streak of never losing two consecutive games since Season 94, Benilde dominated the opening two sets and early Set 3, led by Nolasco and the young standouts Cam Bartolome and Shekaina Lleses.
However, the Lady Knights dug deep and threatened to turn the game around.
Nicen Colendra, often substituting for Judiel Nitura, came through with three consecutive points to fuel a 9-3 blast and tie the game at 22-all. She even delivered back-to-back kills that gave Letran the set point at 25-24.
But a costly service error from Hizki Flores, followed by another blunder from Vanessa Sarie, allowed Benilde to take the match point at 26-25. Nolasco wasted no time finishing it with a crushing kill in the middle as Benilde survived and dragged Letran to a sudden death.
Nolasco admitted the team got shaken during Letran’s huge comeback but said it only tested their character and composure ahead of Game 3.
"Doon po na-test ‘yung composure ng team kasi ‘yun nga po, nara-rattle na din and nu’ng pumasok ako, sabi ko sige okay lang kalma lang tayo para hindi masyadong magulo ‘yung execution namin," Nolasco, who was also honored as one of the Best Middle Blockers, added.
"And lumabas naman, maganda naman na na-experience namin ‘yung gano’n ngayong game."
—JKC, GMA News
