Air Force Jet Spikers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Losing Maika Ortiz in the offseason, coach Jasper Jimenez admitted that even he didn’t know how the team will fare in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference.
“Talagang big question mark sa amin yun. Siguro yung hard work namin at character nila ang nagdala para sa Air Force,” he said.
Lo and behold, the Jet Spikers vaulted to the top spot of the eliminations with a 6-1 card, dispatched Laoag in the semifinals, before valiantly falling to eventual champion Pocari Sweat in three hard fought games in the Finals.
“In-expect namin top four lang, masaya na kami. Bonus na ito sa amin at nalaman namin na kaya pala namin. Walang imposible kapag sama-sama kayo,” said Jimenez.
Air Force needed heroes, and it got them in the form of ladies like Joy Cases, Judy Ann Caballejo, Wendy Ann Semana, May Ann Pantino, and Jocemer Tapic.
Jimenez, for his part, couldn’t be prouder knowing his squad fought hard in the championship duel.
“Naglaro naman lahat. I’m very proud and very thankful kasi hindi kami basta nagpatalo at lumaban yung team,” he said. “Nandoon yung desire to win at yung puso nila. Nandoon yung character nila, so yun ang pinakamaganda kong nakita sa team.”
But there’s still so much to learn for the Jet Spikers, who will be welcoming back Ortiz and setter Rhea Dimaculangan for the team’s future tournaments.
“Kailangan pa ng practice talaga, especially yung service namin. Mananalo na kami eh, binibigay pa,” the coach said.
All Jimenez could do now is to remain positive, keeping the valuable lessons from this campaign as he wraps up an impressive showing for Air Force in the V-League.
“Siguro ang pinakamagandang bagay dyan ay alam namin na kaya namin at babawi na lang kami sa susunod,” he said. Mikaela Calilong/ Philippine Daily Inquirer trainee
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