Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Bali Pure utility Jerrili Malabanan said Wednesday their focus in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference went on a slight dipped after suffering back-to-back losses in the crucial phase of the eliminations.
“I think you can see lately our team doesn’t really have that drive, our drive isn’t that high as it was before,” said Malabanan after their four-set win over Adamson University, 25-18, 25023, 19-25, 25-20, at Filoil Flying V Centre.
Bali Pure lost two five-setters against Philippine Air Force and BanKo Perlas before recovering against the Lady Falcons to steady its record at 3-3.
Malabanan said the reason for their slip was that the most of them now have to practice with their respective school teams while also practicing for the Water Defenders.
“For the NU [National University] girls they have school work and school training and they’re also training for Bali Pure,” said Malabanan, who is enrolled at Far Eastern University. “For me and Angel [Cayuna] we don’t have school yet but we also train twice a day for FEU.”
Malabanan added that Bali Pure head coach Roger Gorayeb doesn’t put them in the same rigorous regimen their school teams put them through, and instead the Water Defenders brush up on the little things to prepare for their games in the PVL.
“By the time we get to Bali Pure we have muscle cramps, we’re so tired but we manage because coach Roger’s training isn’t super hard,” said Malabanan who had 16 points in the win.