“Today’s competition made us learn, and it taught us many things. Their coach is very smart, the PLDT coach.” – Teng Yen-Min of KingWhale to Coach Pascua

Wise leaders are grateful leaders. Words of praise, even counting the simplest encouragement can translate to future victories, given to the right person. A grateful one at that.

Despite the team’s smashing loss, this may kindle a spark of fiery athletic performance in their next match. Just the motivation PLDT needs on a low point. A highly motivated coach may bring an upcoming win.

Following their competitive match in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, KingWhale tactician Teng Yen-Min thanked PLDT head coach George Pascua for his warm comments.

Teng praised Pascua for his changes during the match, which saw PLDT come back from a 1-2 hole only to lose in the end, in her interview with the media.

The Taiwanese team defeated the High Speed Hitters in the SM Mall of Asia Arena in five sets, 23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, and 15-13, after falling behind by four points in the fifth round (8-12).

Pascua ascertained that he would draw inspiration from Teng’s words. He recounts “Naa-appreciate ko yun kasi syempre we coaches, magkakaiba kami ng ano then natutuwa naman ako at na-recognize ako ng coach ng KingWhale. Isa sa mga motivations ko pa para pag-butihan kasi nare-recognize ng ibang coaches yung pinaghirapan namin.”

(I appreciate that because of course we are coaches, we have different things then I am happy that the coach of KingWhale recognized me. One of my motivations to improve is because other coaches recognize what we have worked hard for)

The team’s squandered opportunity in the dying seconds of the game, which could have given them a better chance of making it to the finals, was lamented by the newly appointed Adamson head coach.

Coach Pascua iterates, “Sabi ko nga kanina sa dugout, na-unlock na natin yung pintuan, yung opportunity na nasa loob e. Yun nga lang, ayaw buksan e, kumbaga ayaw pumasok.”

“Kung nanalo tayo hindi na tayo aasa sa ibang teams na magdadasal pa tayo na kailangan matalo ‘to. Mahirap naman ipagdasal yung kung makaakyat ka ‘man ng finals, magdadasal ka pa para manalo yung isang team para makapasok ka ng finals,” he continues.

“Iba pa rin syempre yung pinaghirapan mo siya. Hoping pa rin kami pero kailangan makita muna namin yung results, pero ‘di kami hihinto hanggat ‘di natatapos.”

PLDT however,  now wishes that KingWhale loses its forthcoming games against Creamline and Cignal in three or four sets.

Pascua’s PLDT now stands with 2 total wins, 2 total losses, 8 total points in the semifinals, from a total of 4 match games, 10 set wins, and 7 set losses.

They have 1.429 set ratio which is not that bad, with points win of 375 points lost at 365. Yielded points ratio is 1.027.

With this, PLDT stands at third from KingWhale on top, Creamline second. Cignal HD Spikers follow close to PLDT while Army Black Mamba is at far fifth from the top.

Previous performance of PLDT shows the most recent loss against Cignal HD Spikers ending at 2-3. This loss against KingWhale at 2-3, a more previous loss at 3-2 against Creamline Cool Smashers, and a lone recent WIN at 1-3. So far the probability of a win remains uncertain, however, the recent series of losses is rather disappointing for everyone on the team and its supporters.

We can however, hope that these kind and encouraging words really do translate as a lose streak breaking win. A semi long awaited quench for PLDT’s thirsty lot. With all this being taken into consideration, it would be rather hard, short of extremely risky to place lots and stake for an imminent PLDT win.

Hopes up for coach George Pascua. After all it will not be a waste to fight on and fight hard.