Rald Ricafort feels he has all the tools to contend for a title. —PVL IMAGES
After a 3-0 start in the PVL All-Filipino Conference and with a roster so loaded, who would have thought that PLDT would end last year with a losing streak?
Coach Rald Ricafort certainly didn’t think so, but has it figured out. More or less.
“There are a lot of factors, but our biggest problems are our lack of maturity and the ability to respond to difficult situations,” Ricafort said in Filipino. “A lot of problems are stemming from that and that’s our [coaching staff’s] priority to fix.
“It’s frustrating on our part because we have a complete lineup, potential-wise, so we should be able to be at par with the other teams,” he went on. “But there are factors that we can’t control that are limiting the players.”
The High Speed Hitters used the holiday break for some rest and to all be on the same page as they face a difficult schedule ahead tipped off by the highly anticipated grudge match against Akari at the resumption of the tournament on Jan. 18.
There is history between the two teams which started in the Reinforced Conference when PLDT was poised for a podium finish.
Having the lead and just a few points away from reaching the Finals, the High Speed Hitters called a challenge that was ruled unsuccessful before the Chargers won and made it to the title series.
Biggest weapon
And so there will be a bit more at stake when they face each other again at the start of this year.
What gives Ricafort a lot of confidence in turning things around quickly is his prolific scorer in Savi Davison.
“Before the season started, I already told them that Savi’s role will be to produce points,” Ricafort said. “Our struggles come from no one giving the expected support [for Davison].”
Still, Ricafort wants everything to fall in place as far as supporting Davison is concerned. He just wants the next-woman-up mentality on his players.
“All the coaches believe that we have the tools and the capability to be in the top four, top three, right? So I think it’s more about us holding each other to a certain standard and being accountable.”
And that would be an important factor for PLDT to return to its winning ways as Davison takes her first plunge in the brewing rivalry—she was injured when that controversial loss happened—and leads the High Speed Hitters the way she has always done.
“It’s not really my place to call on anybody or pick anybody out. That’s not my job,” Davison said when asked from whom scoring support should come from. “My job is to show up and produce and [help] the team in any way possible, whether that’s a leadership or performance role, whatever that is.
“That’s all I can do, right? I just want us to win so bad,” Davison went on. “I just want us to be where we belong and just show other people that we can actually compete. So it’s not the end yet. We’ll see.”