Pocari Sweat main man Myla Pablo lamented her team’s lack of defensive intensity in the straight set loss to Bali Pure, 25-22, 25-19, 25-22, in the first game of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference finals Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
“We had a meeting with coach Rico [De Guzman] after the game and we all admitted that we weren’t in the game mentally,” said Pablo, who just won the conference’s MVP award, in Filipino.
“We weren’t focused during the game and we absolutely had no reception against Bali Pure.”
The Lady Warriors registered just 20 excellent receptions, while the Water Defenders tacked 33.
And Bali Pure capitalized on Pocari’s lack of ground defense to score 39 spikes and nine service aces.
Pablo expressed her discontent with how they failed to replicate whatever they did in training wherein they were able, she said, to execute their defensive plays perfectly.
“That’s really the problem, we don’t have any reception,” said Pablo who had nine points in the loss. ”When we practice we’re able to execute them well but we just can’t seem to do it during games.”
Pocari Sweat trail Bali Pure 0-1 in the best-of-three championship series.