Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix Week #1 Accolades
This is gonna be fun because of the introduction of the Men’s Division.
For those of you just tuning in to this one, I fete those great performances of the week and at the same time point out those that may need a little tweaking. We also have the influx of imports in the Women’s Division, so all in all we have a plethora of things to break down. The next PSL GP gameday is on Wednesday (November 20th) so I will take this opportunity to recognize those that have stood out and some who have stumbled.
Let’s begin.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Suzanne Roces (PLDT MyDSL-Women’s)
I guess some of you can call this sacrilegious in a way, but think for a moment that the volleybelle we lovingly call “Kuya” just made her PSL debut.If you also look at the Speed Boosters’ line-up, it’s not really as stacked as Roger Gorayeb’s previous squad in the Shakey’s V-League which featured the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Din-Din Santiago and Pheenok Kesinee. Roces had to plug a lot of holes as PLDT MyDSL was still adjusting to its two American imports and the rotation involving its phalanx of open-spikers. Roces played multiple positions to compensate for the adjustments and made sure the team got the win. She scored fourteen points and effectively checked Cignal HD’s Chinese reinforcements as well as making it known to the league that her debut was only a sign of things to come. That will all be tested when the Speed Boosters take on a red-hot TMS-Philippine Army squad on Wednesday.
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SURPRISE PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Wanida Kotruang (Cagayan Valley)
We never really saw the full package when this 23-year-old Nakhor Ratchasima native suited up for Smart-Maynilad in the recently concluded Shakey’s V-League Open Conference. After two outings with the Net Spikers, Kotruang began being reduced to a defensive specialist—thanks to the emergence of Santiago and the offensive concentration on Valdez. When the Rising Suns signed her—in a stroke of Genius by Head Coach Nes Pamilar as he did not have to spend for airfare—many expected veteran import Patcharee Saengmuang to be the lone source of income sans injured skipper Angge Tabaquero. Kotruang showed what she could truly bring to the forefront as her power spikes left the opening day crowd in awe. All she needed was a defined role and she would deliver. Kotruang scored twelve points in Cagayan Valley’s opener against Petron and followed that up with thirteen points in the loss to TMS. With Tabaquero foreseen to be out for a considerable amount of time, Kotruang could continue to gain confidence in the role she has always been accustomed to in that starting open-spiker slot.
SECOND STRING STAR OF THE WEEK: Armando Maleon (PLDT MyDSL-Men’s)
He didn’t even play in the open match of the PLDT MyDSL Speed Boosters, but promptly made his presence felt coming off the bench in the five-set saga against Giligan’s last Friday. Maleon, the 22-year-old former center of the Adamson University Falcons in the UAAP took the place of Harby Ilano and proceeded to dismantle the Sisig Kings’ defenses and had his squad on the crest of victory by enabling PLDT MyDSL to take a 2-1 lead. However, Giligan’s dug deep and pulled out the dramatic win. Maleon led the Speed Boosters in scoring with seventeen markers and became the favourite target of veteran setter Rolly Casillan. Although Maleon may have just earned a starting spot with his inspired performance against the Sisig Kings, his brilliance as a reserve for Head Coach Francis Vicente almost enabled them to stay undefeated. Now Maleon becomes a marked man in their next encounter against Maybank on November 27th.
OVERACHIEVER OF THE WEEK: Jacqueline Alarca (TMS-Philippine Army)
Lady Troopers Head Coach Rico de Guzman had already indicated that his squad was ailing, especially in the frontline. Erstwhile skipper Joanne Bunag has not yet6 seen action in the tournament as she is still nursing that ankle sprain she sustained in the SVL Open. Mary Jean Balse has been bothered by knee and back issues all year and with Bunag’s absence, de Guzman has no alternative but to thrust Alarca—a former UAAP MVP—into that starting center position. Many don’t know that Alarca is playing with cartilage issues on BOTH knees and has been playing in pain for months—even taking a week off during the SVL Open to rest. But Alarca is answering the call of duty and knows that she has to help the depleted team. She has. TMS has won its first two matches and Alarca is averaging 10.5 PPG in those two triumphs. Her serves and key blocks have been a major catalyst in Army’s good start and is buying enough time for Bunag to rejoin the squad soon. For now, she has personified the word “overachieving”.
HIGHLIGHT MOMENT OF THE WEEK: The Men’s Division opened
PSL Commissioner Dr, Ian Laurel confided to me that he fought tooth and nail for not only the inclusion of the Men’s Division in the PSL GP, but also to have ALL its matches televised. There was a lot of apprehension and mounting excitement when opening day had the first ever Men’s Division match between the Richard Gomez-led PLDT MyDSL and the AJ Pareja-bannered Systema Tooth Care. A majority of those who stayed on to catch a glimpse of the new competition were quickly treated to a high-octane, pulsating brand of volleyball that many were had not seen before. Now, three matches in, the action has even escalated and now more and more fans are now embracing the PSL GP Men’s Division. It was a victory for the male players who have been patiently waiting for their moment to wow audiences and now they finally get their chance. Laurel told me that there are more and more male players coming out of the woodwork wanting to play again and that a few potential franchises have already indicated interest in helping form a team. It appears that Laurel has unlocked a new phenomenon that will bear fruit faster than anyone could have anticipated.
PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK: Richard Gomez (PLDT MyDSL-Men’s)
When the rosters of the Men’s Division hit social media, many thought that PLDT MyDSL’s Richard Gomez was just a namesake of the popular actor/sportsman. When he showed up at the PSL Fan Night, there were mixed notions. Some said he was compelled to join the Men’s Division to spawn its popularity and would just be a “decoration” to help draw audiences. Others said Gomez was going to use his exposure to revitalize his career. A lot never knew that the 46-year-old actually started out as a volleyball player before being more known in other sports like basketball, fencing, baseball and rowing. Gomez—watched in the stands by his ever-supportive wife Lucy Torres—shocked those in the dark about his volleyball abilities by unleashing nine points and flow quickly with the flow of the PLDT MyDSL offense. It’s as if he had been playing ceaselessly all these years. His nine markers tied for team-high honors and although he cooled off by only registering four points in the loss to Giligan’s, “Goma” has proven to the doubters that he is for real and that he deserves his presence in the league. It’s not a show, it’s the truth.
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MATCH OF THE WEEK: (M) Giligan’s def. PLDT MyDSL—28-26, 20-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-8
The first five-setter of the tournament came from the Men’s Division. It’s no surprise. The two matches prior to Friday’s tiff may have ended in straight sets, but were extremely close: PLDT MyDSL def. Systema—25-23, 25-23, 25-22 and Giligan’s def. Maybank—25-23, 27-25, 26-24. So when the two unscathed teams clashed, it was expected to be another tight one. Only two players had scored in double figures heading into match #3: Pareja, 10 and Giligan’s JP Torres, 12. In this match alone, seven players notched eleven points or more and both teams combined for 212 total points over the full route. The action was relentless. Both setters (Casillan and Ian Fernandez) traded successful setups and both liberos (PLDT MyDSL’s Gilbert Longavela and Giligan’s Jay Chua) duelled to the end. The protracted nature of the match indicates that the competition will be cutthroat for the Men’s Division and they know it. Could the PLDT-Giligan’s game be a preview of the finals? I wouldn’t mind.
OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kaylee Manns (PLDT MyDSL-Women’s)
She’s only played one match in the opening week, but already she’s got the fans talking. Manns, the standout setter from the Iowa State University Cyclones and has gone to have a sensational career as a player overseas and as a coach, actually had a slow start in her first match in the Philippines. Up against PSL Invitational runner-ups Cignal HD, the Speed Boosters couldn’t find the balance to their attacks and Manns struggled in the early goings. But then something switched on in the 25-year-old from Topeka, Kansas and she proceeded to dominate the HD Spikers—through her setting (35 excellent sets), blocking (two of the team’s nine total), and scoring (eleven points, many through well placed drop-balls). She also brought out her coaching skills—even sometimes vehemently “suggesting” to Gorayeb a different approach (to which the veteran mentor sheepishly shrugs an agreement to). She’s true leader and a winner and PLDT MyDSL is very fortunate to have her as their playmaker. She’s the sportZtackle Outstanding Player of the Week.
PHOTO CAPTION OPPORTUNITY OF THE WEEK:
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Cignal HD skipper Michelle Datuin is apparently tied at the wrists by invisible rope and being hoisted away. What are your other ideas to interpret this one? POST AWAY! Answer in the comments box.
Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com
