GRADUATING players Rizza Cruz and Louie Romero are eager to deliver the Rebisco Volleyball League national championship to Kings’ Montessori before moving to Adamson for college.
The spiker-setter tandem,once again delivered the goods as Kings’ Montessori secured a semifinal berth with a 25-17, 25-15 win over University of Mindanao-Tagum College on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
“Gusto kong mag-champion dito,” said Romero, who has been orchestrating the offensive loads of her spikers as Kings' Montessori won its fourth straight game in Pool A of this premier tournament for high school players.
Cruz has the same goal.
“Sobrang gustong gusto namin makuha yung championship kasi ilang years na kami hindi nananalo, Shakey’s pa lang,” she said. “So this batch po namin gusto namin patunayan na deserve namin makuha yung championship dito.”
But for the two 18-year olds, the team has to work on its lapses with one more elimination match remaining against Hawaii’s Aloha Region Juniors team on Thursday before heading into the semifinals on Friday.
“Hindi kami nagkakampante ngayon, mas lalo pa kami nagpupursige kasi gusto namin manalo,” Romero said. “Masasabi ko lang hindi pa rin kami consistent kasi minsan lamang na kami or lamang na yung kalaban parang nagla-lie low kami."
Cruz said every game is a learning experience.
“Actually yung nilalaro ng team namin ngayon, for me po, maganda siya kasi lahat kami nagco-contribute na,” the spiker said. “Lahat ng games pinagdaanan namin is may mga natutunan kami kaya yung lessons na natutunan namin doon inaapply namin sa next game para maging maayos.”
Both players are already committed to Adamson for the next school year after they appeared as guest players of the Lady Falcons in last year’s Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
“Grabe po kasi yung support ng Adamson and yung puso ko nasa Adamson na po,” said Romero, the Kings’ Montessori skipper.
“For me, kasi nasa puso po kasi yun parang si Lord na po yung bahala, yung tutulong sa 'yo mag-decide para po kasi sakin,” Cruz said. “Kaya gusto ko mag-Adamson is para makatulong ako sa family ko and alam ko sa Adamson po mas maho-hone po yung skills ko and para po sa akin talaga.”