Howard Mojica goes for the kill. INQUIRER File Photo
Cignal coach Michael Carino could not hide his disappointment with the dismal showing his wards had in Game 1 of the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Open Conference Finals on Monday.
“Maraming problema sa amin sa araw na to. Parang di kami preparado. Yung team ko, parang wala lahat. Sa performance nila ngayon, wala silang pinakitang maganda,” he said after the HD Spikers fell to Philippine Air Force in straight sets, 25-19, 25-16, 25-19.
(We faced a lot of problems on this day. It seemed like we were not prepared. They had a dismal showing in their performance.)
Humbled by the Jet Spikers duo of Fauzi Ismail and Howard Mojica, Carino is hoping to wake up his wards and show why Cignal deserves to be in the championship duel.
“Lesson sa amin yun para next game, alam na namin kung paano sosolusyunan yung mga naging problema namin this game. Kung ano yung pinakapangit na performance namin today, yun ang gagamitin naming motivation sa second game,” he said.
(It served as a lesson for us so that in the next game, we would know to solve the problems we have faced in this game. Our worst performance today would be our motivation in the second game.)
But the St. Benilde women’s volleyball coach remains undaunted as he hopes that lightning would indeed strike twice for the HD Spikers.
“Sanay kami sa ganitong laban (We are used to this kind of game),” said Carino, noting the two team’s past encounter back in the Finals of Season 1 Reinforced Conference, where Air Force took the first game before Cignal swept the next two matches to win the championship.
“Kung ano yung ginawa namin, pagiigihan namin sa susunod para manalo kami sa second game. Di ko muna iniisip yung third game. Iniisip ko kung pano kami makakabawi,” he said.
(We would do better in the next game. I don’t think about the third game yet. I’m thinking about how we could get back up.)
Carino continued, “Maging optimistic lang. Kung ano yung performance nila ngayon, hindi na namin yun mababawi. I have to be optimistic with them and tell them na makakahanap naman tayo ng paraan sa second game. You have to accept na natalo ka and bounce back na lang sa susunod na game. Tamang preparasyon lang.”
(I would remain optimistic. We couldn’t redo their performance today. I have to be optimistic with them and tell them that we could find a way to improve in the second game. You have to accept that you lost and just bounce back in the next game. It’s about the right preparation.)
Game 2 is set on July 13 still at Philsports Arena. RAM
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