They may have outlasted University of Perpetual Help System in a five-setter but Mapua University head coach Clarence Esteban said his players may have had a 'bad day.'
"Sa totoo lang, hindi ko ine-expect na ganyan ang ilalaro ng players namin. Siguro matatawag natin na bad day, almost mga players ko parang tumitigil eh, hindi continuous 'yung galaw namin," Esteban said in a post-game conference on Friday.
The Mapua head coach added that despite the challenges, he just continued to motivate his players.
"Nawala ‘yung pang-ibabaw namin. Nandun ‘yung ilalim pero 'yung pang-ibabaw namin na pang-score namin is nawawala dahil sa receive namin hindi kami [makaatake]. Pinipilit ko lang sila i-motivate na ituloy lang nila kung ano ‘yung dapat gawin nila."
Esteban added that they took advantage of Mapua standout Nicole Ong when she was at the frontline during the game.
"‘Yun nga sinasabi ko sa mga kasamahan namin, pag nasa harapan si Nicole, samantalahin natin. Hangga’t puwede tayo dumepensa na nandiyan siya sa ibabaw, gawin namin kasi sa kaniya talaga kami kumukuha ng puntos which is nababasa na nga ng kalaban ‘yung ginagawa namin," Esteban admitted.
"Pero siyempre d'un kami kailangan umiskor eh. Kahit papaano nagagawan ng paraan ni Nicole, ayan na nga lumalabas na 'yung resulta."
Ong tallied 21 points on top of 13 attacks and eight blocks in Mapua's third straight win.
—JMB, GMA News
