Lesson learned for Tiamzon, BanKo in bronze medal loss

BanKo’s Nicole Tiamzon (no.19) talks to her teammates during Game 3 of the bronze medal series of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference. POOL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—It was a bitter defeat for BanKo against Pacifictown-Army in the bronze medal series of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, but it was an event full of lessons for the podium outsider.

Perlas Spikers captain Nicole Tiamzon said the Game 3 loss to the Lady Troopers, 18-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-15, 15-13, should serve as a lesson for them heading into the Open Conference.

“Lesson learned because Banko Perlas always puts up a fight every time,” said Tiamzon Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo. “We just have to be patient and this isn’t just a lesson on the court, but also outside of it.”

“As a team, we should always look at the positive side, this will be our source of motivation going to the all-Filipino conference.”

The loss also seemed to wax poetic for Tiamzon as she practically carried the Perlas Spikers on her back during the finals.

BanKo played the third-place series practically without its second import, Jeane Horton, who was suffering from injuries throughout the three-game tussle.

This left Tiamzon to carry much of the offensive load with Thai guest player Sutadta Chuewulim.

Tiamzon was BanKo’s reliable scorer averaging 17.3 points a game and she hopes she can carry that momentum to the Open Conference.

“We struggled a lot during this conference because sometimes there’s only one import playing for us,” said Tiamzon, who was named the 1st Best Outside Spiker of the conference. “We’re looking forward to the next conference and we really need to double our effort.”

As for her individual award, Tiamzon said it hasn’t sunk in yet and that she would rather leave end the conference with a medal hanging under her chin.

“I think I was looking forward more for the bronze than the individual award but it’s a blessing,” said Tiamzon. “This will make me work even harder but it would matter more if the team won bronze.”