PLDT will put Akari’s unbeaten nine-game run to the test in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference knockout semifinals in two days’ time.
Although nerves will be inevitable as each playoff match becomes a must-win, PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort believes Akari will be under more pressure by virtue of their perfect start.
But all that seems trivial now as it all boils down to who wakes up on the good side of the bed that day.
“By this time, ‘di na nag-mamatter ‘yung record. Going into that game, sabi nga namin pagandahan na lang talaga ng gising. ‘Pag nag-click, mag-cclick, makukuha mo talaga,” he said.
“At the same time, siguro ‘di naman sa’min mas may pressure kasi ‘yung record naman namin, ‘di naman perfect eh. So nandu’n pa rin kami sa mag-tatrabaho pa rin kami and ita-try talaga naming i-challenge kung ano man ‘yung ibigay sa’min (sa semifinals).”
Survival of the fittest
With only one-day breaks separating each round of the knockout playoffs, fatigue is a given for the remaining teams in contention.
With four teams remaining, Ricafort knows that it all boils down to a ‘survival of the fittest’ kind of grind, but not just physically but also mentally.
“Sa schedule namin ngayon, talagang mental game na nga, tulad ng laro kanina. Going into the next game, one day nalang preparation namin,” he shared.
“Binabanggit na namin sa kanila going into this game na ‘pag ready kami mentally at trinabaho namin nang maayos, lalabas at lalabas ‘yung laro namin.”
History is bound to be written in the PVL either way as one of PLDT or Akari will reach the finals for the first time and fight for a maiden title.
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