Finals MVP Panaga’s mission order: stop Soltones

Jeanette Panaga. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Jeanette Panaga entered the room crying as if her team lost the match, while her coach had a beaming smile as they sat down on a makeshift bench.

Her tears, though, were of joy as College of St. Benilde took its first NCAA Volleyball title on Thursday at the expense of San Sebastian.

“Sobrang happy, two years na kaming di umaabot ng finals, kailangan talaga tiyaga at focus para umabot ng finals, tapos eto champion na kami,” Panaga said.

Panaga took the Finals MVP after finishing with 16 points, seven of which came off blocks.

Cariño, knowing his fourth-year player was the Best Blocker of the season, gave Panaga one order: disrupt San Sebastian’s Grethcel Soltones.

“Pigilan lang talaga si Grethcel, ang key player kasi ng Baste si Soltones kaya once ma stop siya hindi na lalaban ang Baste,” Panaga said. “Ayun nga ginawa namin.”

Just as she sat in utter disbelief with the fact they won her school’s first title, Panaga also looked at her Finals MVP with awe.

“Hindi ko na po inexpect na ako Finals MVP, focus ko talaga mag champion yung team.”