PLDT coach Rald Ricafort is taking classes from the PVL’s finest groups and utilizing them to indicate his gamers what it is going to take to turn out to be champions.
“Since I’m centered on scouting, I present my gamers how [the best teams and players] play and the way [we] evaluate to the requirements of the league,” Ricafort advised the Inquirer in Filipino after PLDT cruised to a 3rd consecutive win following a fast 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 dismissal of Capital1 on Tuesday at PhilSports Area.
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“[I show my players] how the likes of Brooke [van Sickle of Petro Gazz], [Creamline’s] Alyssa [Valdez and [Bernadeth] Pons play, as a result of [they are] those [whose level] we are attempting to succeed in … so we [can] even have the talent set of the highest groups,” Ricafort added.
PLDT’s first two wins triggered fear for Ricafort, who famous how his workforce would chill out after taking 2-0 set leads. Of their opener in opposition to Nxled, the Excessive Pace Hitters have been compelled to a fourth set earlier than closing out the win. Towards Galeries Tower, PLDT once more wobbled within the third set however regrouped in time to trend out a sweep.
If the win in opposition to the Photo voltaic Spikers was any indication, the Excessive Pace Hitters could have lastly discovered their lesson.
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“[S]ince our first recreation I advised them that [once] we’re answerable for our recreation, we should always keep away from [relaxing in the end] as a result of the stream of the sport additionally impacts us,” he stated. “If we present a little bit of complacency, [opponents will take advantage] as a result of everyone seems to be getting higher and [no one folds] simply in contrast to earlier than.”
Difficult Savi
“That was the mindset going into this recreation: to stay to even the small particulars which, if we’re capable of execute, will make issues simpler],” he added.
“That’s what occurred immediately.”
And to additional double down on that lesson, Ricafort will proceed splicing movies of Creamline, the winningest workforce within the historical past of PVL and first-ever Grand Slam winners, and Petro Gazz, which has proven promise since Van Sickle arrived, to indicate his gamers what it takes to win a title.
“So if we nonetheless don’t have [the skill set that the top teams have] based mostly on their recreation movies, that’s what we proceed to push [for],” Ricafort stated, including that by making examples of the highest squads, he additionally provides his gamers a goal.
“We don’t need to guess [where we are in] our development [because we can compare ourselves to the teams] we’re chasing.”
“In the event that they obtain [our goal of closing the gap], then we now have an entire talent set and we will play at the next degree,” he stated.
The problem falls closely on Savi Davison, the PLDT star hitter getting back from a knee process. The Filipino-Canadian is slowly getting again to her regular deadly type and punched in a game-high 17 factors in opposition to Capital1.
‘Rising’
“I’m simply coming again and being concerned in observe once more so I don’t suppose there’s a lot change [in us]. Clearly we work exhausting, our preparation was very nice and we simply know methods to alter to sure groups and I believe we simply present up every single day working tougher than the final,” Davison advised the postgame press convention.
“I believe as a workforce, we’re simply rising basically as a gaggle. It’s actually enjoyable to see how a lot we will achieve this I’m simply excited to see—give us extra time and we’ll see the way it goes,” she added.
Erika Santos and Fiola Ceballos, two gamers Ricafort hopes will even reply to his problem, completed with 11 factors every, with Ceballos additionally lively on protection with 16 glorious digs. INQ