Coming from an underwhelming placement in the 2018 National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (NSCUAA) Games with a short preparation time this year, revamped Bicol volleyball teams still imposed a scare on high-ranked regions, Calabarzon and Western Visayas, during the 2023 NSCUAA Games.
No longer push-asides
Extending their opening match to a decider and securing a five-point lead in the latter part, 12-7, against Calabarzon, Bicol Men’s Volleyball Team proved they are no longer push-asides.
Despite their loss, 19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 15-13, the team found silver linings in Bicol University (BU) athletes Aries Aguallo and setter-captain Kent Centeno. Aguallo, an open hitter and fourth-year BU Peace Studies student, punched in 16 points.
Meanwhile, BU fourth-year nursing student Kent Centeno’s early sub out due to a recurring knee injury toughened the team's composure.
“Team captain nga po si Kent. ‘Yung time na nainjure si Kent parang nag collapse yung team kasi siya po yung pinaka-need mag step up sa amin. Nung fourth set nilaban namin,” Aguallo commented.
However, frustration did not desert the team despite the positive takeaways, as they were two points from serving an upset to Calabarzon.
“Parang heartbreaking yung [game] to the point na sayang talaga. Tsaka honestly lang may [placement po sila], so maboboost sana yung confidence namin kung matalo namin sila. Pero sayang talaga. Sayang, kinapos talaga,” Aguallo stated.
Moreover, Francesco Serrano, their head coach, shared the same frustration.
“ 'Yung tiwala nila sa sarili nila kasi doon talaga bumibigay. Kasi andun na ‘yung skill nila eh andun na yung material. Kailangan lang talaga yung determination nila to win the game,” he responded upon being asked about the skills the team has to improve on.
About Centeno’s knee pain, Centeno disclosed that he has been suffering a minor knee injury since 2021.
“Nafrustrate ako noong una. ‘Yung feeling na gustong gusto mo maglaro, gustong gusto mo manalo, ‘yun yung pinunta mo rito tapos because of injury you’re not able to do it. It’s really frustrating talaga,” he said.
Remarkably, during one of the time outs, Centeno got emotional in the middle of a huddle.
“Kita naman sa laro na kaya siya tapos 'yun nga di ako makapaglaro dahil sa sakit sa knee. Iniyak ko na lang,” he reasoned.
Notably, numerous yellow cards were given to the team due to alleged unnecessary taunting.
“Hindi naman siya karapat dapat na itao samo kaya pinabayaan mi na lang. ‘Yun nilaro mi na lang. Naogma man kami na may yellow card kami sa national competition na dae man baga namo deserve ang yellow card,” Bicol ace spiker Ronald San Miguel stated.
On the bright side, San Miguel testified that their game was the best outing of the region against Calabarzon in his entire volleyball career.
“First Palarong Pambansa ko against Calabarzon as in ang pangit po ng laro namin like 10-25, 13-25, ang score. Nagbibilangan pa kami ng score namin against them. Happy man ako na close fight namin ‘yung Calabarzon,” he said.
Defeated yet unswept
Despite their fresh loss against Calabarzon, Bicol men’s volleyball team (MVT) denied the equally feisty Western Visayas a sweep in their second day match, 25-18, 20-25, 25-13, 25-13, as San MIguel led the campaign with 12 points.
However, San Miguel admitted that he was not satisfied with his performance despite redeeming himself, especially as he is in his last playing year for BU, along with Kent Recto, and Kent Centeno.
“Sobrang pressured din ako. Nasa utak ko kasi kung ano ineexpect nila dapat ‘yun din ang maipakita ko. Hindi lang naging consistent ang game ko. Also, mas magandang umalis kami sa BU na may medal kayo na team kaya nakulangan pa rin ako,” he shared.
Somehow, with their exclusion in the quarterfinals, San Miguel extended gratitude to coach Serrano for honing him as an athlete, also adding that they would not be the regional champions if not because of him.
Statement exit
Just when one may think Bicol MVT will be in a complete meltdown after the back-to-back losses, middle blocker and BU Engineering student Atilla Imperial awakened the team after putting in 18 crucial points to sweep the Ilocos region in their third and last game, 25-23, 25-19, 25-19.
“Gustong gusto ko bumawi dahil sa first and second game natalo kami, which is siguro kaya rin naman namin. Kaya ngayon pinag igihan namin yung laro namin para uuwi kaming may panalo,” Imperial said.
He added that the team dedicated the game to their seniors for their first NSCUAA win.
“ 'Yung play style ng ibang regions ay napakalayo sa laro namin which is pwede naming gawing motivation sa paglalaro o training para maging magkasame level kami,” he added when asked about his takeaways in the tournament.
Moving forward, as per coach Serrano, the BU community may expect his athletes to bounce back in the upcoming Bicol Universities and Colleges Athletic League (BUCAL) this November or December after bagging a win via sweep in the 2023 NSCUAA as their statement exit.
Bicol WVT grabs a set vs Western Visayas
Seeded in bracket C along with powerhouse Calabarzon and Western Visayas, the Bicol Women's Volleyball Team still proved to be a force to wreck on after grabbing a first set win, 25-18, from the hard-hitting Western Visayas in their 2023 NSCUAA campaign.
Despite Calabarzon sweeping them and falling short in the preceding three sets against Western Visayas, Cyril Balde, middle blocker, and a BU third-year nursing student viewed the experience as a lesson more than a setback for the team.
Consequently, teary-eyed after Western Visayas' game, Balde announced she will forgo her last playing year to focus on her studies.
"As much as possible gusto ko naman maglaro pa, pero nahihirapan din ako mag handle ng studies and sports at the same time, pero may tiwala ako sa bawat isa sa kanila lalo na sa tingin ko na sasali pa kami sa BUCAL," she stated.
In conclusion for their NSCUAA stint, Melchor Palmones, the team's head coach, hopes for more support to the sports as he no longer handles Bicol University athletes alone in NSCUAA. Two were from Sorsogon State University, and one from Camarines Norte State University.
"The Bicol University should give more focus on the basic needs in sports like training year round, as well as the facilities. They need [ng mga athletes] 'yung mga programs na dapat masunod. Hindi kaya na training lang ng mga two weeks or months kasi national level competition 'to kaya mas maganda maka prepare tayo ng maayos," he followed up.
Jimwell Kenneth Tanay
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