PLDT may have lost its final match in the semifinals but head coach George Pascua definitely won the respect of KingWhale tactician Teng Yen-Min, Tuesday night.
The Taiwanese club and the High Speed Hitters figured in a tough encounter after the latter overcame a 1-2 deficit to force a decider.
Teng eventually got the best of Pascua after KingWhale dug themselves out of an 8-12 hole in the final frame en route to a thrilling 23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13 win in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference semis.
The Taipei coach made sure to acknowledge Pascua during the post-match interview and even called him a ‘very smart’ coach. Teng also shared that her team came out of the game with a lot more knowledge than before all thanks to the High Speed Hitters.
“Today’s competition made us learn, and it taught us many things. Their coach is very smart, the PLDT coach,” Teng told reporters.
Pascua and Teng shared a moment after the former approached the latter inside the press room and handed him mini volleyballs — the same gesture that the team from Taiwan did with Army-Black Mamba yesterday.
When asked for a reaction, Pascua quipped, “Baka akala niya dahil naka-salamin ako? Hindi ako smart. Baka akala niya dahil naka-salamin ako.”
Turning serious, the Adamson head coach bared that he appreciated what the opposing coach said and he looks to use it as one of his motivations moving forward.
“Naa-appreciate ko yun kasi siyempre we coaches, magkakaiba kami ng ano then natutuwa naman ako at na-recognize ako ng coach ng KingWhale. Isa sa mga motivations ko pa para pag-butihan kasi nare-recognize ng ibang coaches yung pinaghirapan namin,” said Pascua, letting his guard down for a moment.
The former Far Eastern University coach lamented the team’s missed opportunity in the final set wherein they squandered a four-point advantage late in the fifth set resulting in the loss.
“Sabi ko nga kanina sa dugout, na-unlock na natin yung pintuan, yung opportunity na nasa loob e. Yun nga lang, ayaw buksan e, kumbaga ayaw pumasok,” said Pascua.
“Sabi ko nga kanina, kung nanalo tayo hindi na tayo aasa sa ibang teams na magdadasal pa tayo na kailangan matalo ‘to. Mahirap naman ipagdasal yung kung makaakyat ka ‘man ng finals, magdadasal ka pa para manalo yung isang team para makapasok ka ng finals,” he continued.
PLDT’s only hope of making it into the finals is if KingWhale drops its matches against Creamline in three or four sets.
“Iba pa rin syempre yung pinaghirapan mo siya. Hoping pa rin kami pero kailangan makita muna namin yung results, pero ‘di kami hihinto hanggat ‘di natatapos.”
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