THE last import to make her PVL debut wasn’t spared from first-day jitters.
Choco Mucho import Marlee Smith was the only foreign guest player in the 2025 Reinforced Conference to have her first outing held back twice.
While all imports were on the same page in being barred from seeing action the first time around during the PVL-PNVF impasse, only Smith had to face that ordeal a second time, as her personal documentary requirements were still incomplete.
In both those matches she missed, that being a discarded opener against Capital1 and their actual opener vs. Cignal, the all-Filipino Flying Titans still managed to win both games.
Unfortunately, that hot start went for naught when the 6-foot-1, 26-year-old ace entered the equation, as Choco Mucho yielded a 21-25, 20-25, 19-25 loss to PLDT on Thursday.
And the nerves certainly played part in that result.
“It was a little nerve-wracking. This first game was for me to get the jitters out. It exposed to me what I need to work on and how to come for the next game,” Smith said.
“I’m more happy that I get to learn. I think I played ok, but definitely not my best game. I was a little too excited and got nervous a little tonight. After the first game, you realize what to expect and how the crowd will be.”
Her 20-piece built on 17 attacks, two blocks, and one ace was a stat line that even caught her by surprise, knowing how rough the game went for her side.
“I was thinking higher, but I didn't know I scored 20 right now. For me to have an off game and say I scored 20, that just made me happy,” she said.
“I definitely expected a little more from myself. I'm satisfied because like I said, I get to learn. Everything will be all right. We get to train and come back on Tuesday and I think next Tuesday will be much better for me.”
Smith's switch
A possible culprit for her sluggish start that even fans online took notice of was her sudden shift from being a natural opposite to a converted opener.
But in Smith herself's eyes, that was far from the case, as such a role switch was one that taught her more than held her back.
“I don't think it was much of a challenge. Moving from the position that you've been playing for years to a different position, that just shows that my coaches trust me and my teammates,” she said.
“I learned tonight what I need to work on. I’ll take it and I'm running with it.”
The most important part? Her confidence hasn’t run thin.
“I’m not nervous anymore. After getting the feel tonight, I feel like that helped me,” she added. “It's okay. I feel more confident now. It's still going to be a good conference for us.”
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