UP head coach Jerry Yee. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
UP coach Jerry Yee wants nothing less from his players but to improve every game.
That’s why when he sees his Lady Maroons playing poorly, he can’t help himself but call them out and try to get them out of their funk.
And on Monday, as UP fell to Philippine Air Force in straight sets in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference, the one that got Yee’s ire was Isa Molde.
The sophomore open spiker was seen weeping as she made her way out of the UP dugout following the loss, and her coach admitted he was the reason why Molde was in grief.
“Pinagalitan ko eh,” Yee said. “Di ako contented sa effort lately. Parang masyado kaming lax. We have no reason kasi tapos na yung exams. Siguro nag-low din kami.”
Molde only had seven points in the defeat, but the Lady Maroons, in general, played lackadaisical.
Yee admitted he did make her player cry, but there’s a reason for such.
“Ayokong ma-fall siya sa complacency. Ayokong umakyat sa isip niya na lagi siya iniinterview, laging nabibigyan ng gift ng fans, at paborito siya ng lahat,” he said. “Walang sugarcoating, ayokong complacent siya, ayokong pa-star siya. Walang star dito eh. Wala pa naman kaming naa-achieve, pag na-fall siya sa trap na akala niya ang galing niya at di na siya mapagalitan, mahirap na yun. Paminsan-minsan, may mga lessons na nakakaiyak probably kaya ako na lang ang kontrabida.”
Still, Yee said he sees some improvement.
“Medyo bumilis naman kami as compared sa first game. Maganda naman yung kalaban, Air Force naman yun at kahit paano, di naman kami masyadong binugbog,” he said, noting the better showing from setter Meanne Basarte. “Good na ako doon. I see improvements.”
And truly, that’s all Yee could ask for.
“Malayo pa kami sa gusto naming marating. May gusto tayong habulin which is improvement from our last year’s finish. Progression ang gusto natin. Kung walang improvement, magagalit tayo dahil ayaw natin yun,” he said.
“Basta kami, maglalaro at maghahanap ng improvements, and today was an improvement from our first game.”