Far Eastern University is starting a new life without constant savior in Bernadeth Pons.
A constant contender for the MVP the latter part of her UAAP career, Pons was the Lady Tamaraws’ undisputed lead for the past few years and her absence is a void FEU is just starting to figure out how to fill up.
FEU head coach George Pascua said the veterans have to step in and try to take the scoring load Pons left, singling out Jerrili Malabanan as someone who has the potential to become an offensive anchor.
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“Of course the veterans will have to step up, we also need Jerrili,” said Pascua in Filipino Wednesday FEU defeated San Beda, 25-16, 21-235, 25-19, 25-22, in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.
FEU is not only missing the capabilities of Pons in the PVL, but it is also playing without Toni Rose Basas who is nursing an infection on her right ear.
“I’m not saying that they have to be on the same level as Pons, because Pons is Pons, what I want is they should match the intensity when Pons plays,” said Pascua, whose team owns a 2-0 record in the conference.
Malabanan, meanwhile, is aware of the mythos Pons left in FEU and that it would be hard to match what the former Lady Tamaraw captain had done for the school.
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“Coach told us that before the start of the PVL and, obviously, Pons is an irreplaceable player and instead of thinking that one player has to step up and become her, our team has distributed the responsibility,” said Malabanan.
“Everybody has to step up and the pressure shouldn’t be on just one player,” added Malabanan, who had nine points against the Lady Red Spikers.
And as the Lady Tamaraws adjust to life without Pons, one player heeded the call in taking the scoring burden against San Beda.
Celine Domingo rallied her teammates and took command of the offense putting up 22 points to lead FEU to its second straight win in the conference.
“One factor is we have to step up and I’m one of the veterans already,” said Domingo in Filipino. “We feel that we have to assert ourselves but we don’t really pressure ourselves. And we’re always talking as a team that we really have to help each other out.”