Just as Michelle Cobb was making a name for herself as a capable playmaker for De La Salle, she went on a slump that not only affected her, but her whole team as well.
First it was Jasmine Nabor’s dominance in National University’s five-set win over La Salle wherein the Lady Bulldog tallied 53 excellent sets to Cobb’s 27.
And Cobb was once again in the middle of La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus’ post-game talk wherein the 10-time champion mentor said his setter needs to play better.
La Salle lost in four sets to Adamson University, 25-18, 15-25, 25-19, 25-22, in a match where Lady Falcon setter Fhen Emnas, who dished out 43 excellent sets, outplayed Cobb.
“Our setter needs to experience this kind of a big game so she can overcome the pressure that is brought upon her shoulders,” said De Jesus in Filipino Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
“This is for her own good and for the improvement of the whole team as well. She has to see what adjustments she needs to make and how she can handle these types of situations.”
Cobb’s lackluster play has coincided with La Salle’s subpar performance and the Lady Spikers have slipped to 4-2 and their loss was their first at the hands of Lady Falcons since dropping a 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-16 decision in Season 70.
The sophomore setter has proven herself as La Salle’s main distributor most notably in the Lady Spikers’ 25-21, 25-22, 26-24 win over University of the Philippines.
Cobb finished with 10 points and 32 excellent sets for La Salle against the Lady Maroons that saw the 19-year-old score three straight aces to cap off the victory.
“I think Cobb’s maturity as a setter is still lacking because there were times where her decision-making wasn’t apt to what was happening on the floor,” said De Jesus. “She’ll eventually get this experience along the way.”