HAPPY BUT UNSATISFIED
Jorge Souza De Brito isn’t content with just his first PVL playoff appearance that has come with the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the Reinforced Conference.
Calling the shots for the Solar Spikers for the first time, De Brito now has equaled the young franchise’s best-ever accomplishment after a 12-25, 29-27, 25-19, 25-18 win over Galeries Tower on Thursday at SM Mall of Asia Arena, where Capital1 can finish at seventh at the very least.
After improving to 4-4 and moving past No. 8 seed Akari, which also has the same record but trailed in tiebreak points, 13-12, Capital1 could still rise to sixth place if Petro Gazz loses its final match against PLDT.
Rankings will play a crucial part in the playoffs as they determine opponents for each team. Finishing higher, in the case of the Angels-High Speed Hitters match, top-ranking—and presumably the easiest assignment in the quarterfinals in the eight-seeded squad—is at stake for PLDT.
Farm Fresh, which also has a shot at No. 1, did its part later with a 25-17, 25-23, 29-27 victory over Chery Tiggo.
The Foxies now have a 7-1 record like ZUS Coffee, but Farm Fresh has 21 points and the Thunderbelles 20. Farm Fresh is now hoping for a PLDT loss to tab No. 1 or for the Angels to drag the High Speed Hitters into a five-set match in their clash going on at press time.
The one-hour, 29-minute victory was anything but smooth, however. The Foxies squandered an eight-point cushion in the third set and had to survive three set points before escaping on import Eli Rosseaux’s late-set heroics.
“We just kept pushing for each point and taking deep breaths to reset,” said setter Alohi Robins-Hardy, who claimed another Best Player of the Game citation with 24 excellent sets plus seven points in a standout performance for the Foxies.
Prolific Ukranian
The Brazilian tactician, who also handles the Alas Pilipinas national team, was quick to point out that finishing that way is very far from their target. He knows what lies ahead for his young professional crew.
“I’m very proud of the players, proud of the company that trusts our job, the coaching staff,” De Brito said. “But hopefully it’s not all. We have a battle coming next week.
“And hopefully, we can make history much more than (just making the) quarterfinals,” he said. “So for now, (I am) happy, but not satisfied.”
Ukrainian spiker Sasha Bytsenko, who poured in 35 points, braces for a tough knockout match on Monday against a still-unknown foe—but definitely a rock-solid one coming from the upper half—at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“All games are not easy here. It’s true, it’s a good thing here, and every team needs to show its level,” Bytsenko said. “We have just a couple of days to prepare our mentality, physical part and tactical part.
“We will listen to our coach in this short time about what we should do and how to do it.”
Besides the star import, top overall pick Bella Belen had 14 points and 15 digs for Capital1.
Nikka Yandoc provided a spark off the bench with 19 excellent sets. Sydney Niegos added seven points and libero Rica Pancho finished with 11 digs and nine receptions.
Bytsenko puts a premium on teamwork as they play win-or-go-home games.
“What is so important for us is to play as a team,” she said.
