SETTERS often take the blame for dismal team performances, especially as of late in both the national team scene and more so in the pros.
But there’s more to playmaking in volleyball than just setting up the team’s spikers and blockers before heading into attack mode.
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One of the country’s all-time setter greats in PLDT ace Kim Fajardo, 31, shared with SPIN.ph what casual fans might not see straight away on how in-game sequences are drawn and played out.
“Siguro hindi nga nakikita ng mga tao kung ano yung totoong role ng setter, pero alam mo yun, kapag hindi composed, hindi kalmado yung setter, mabilis mawala [yung laro ng team],” Fajardo said.
“Nasa setter talaga. Hindi ‘to bias dahil ito yung position ko pero nasa setter talaga nakasalalay kung paano magiging takbo ng laro.”
Having a hard-hitting spiker might often be viewed as the prerequisite for a winning team but the value of the unsung heroes, as setters often are, can’t be overlooked.
And for anyone who has and will take on the setting role for any team, they have to want it first more than anything.
“As a setter talaga, kailangan mong gustuhin na maging setter kasi wala ka sa limelight, wala ka sa spotlight. Taga-feed ka lang ng bola,” Fajardo said.
“Kailangan mong gustuhin kasi volleyball is a team sport, hindi siya individual lang. Gustuhin niyong maging setter at magiging maayos lahat.”
When asked about the most important attribute a setter must possess, it isn’t about skill or strategy for Fajardo.
It’s the ‘innate’ skill of thinking fast and sharp on one’s feet.
“Yun kasing decision making, innate at nasa tiwala ng setter sa mga teammates niya," the former national team setter said.
"Kung hindi man maging maayos yung decision making ng isang setter sa isang game, siguro may iniinda yung spiker niya."
Cut setters some slack
Expect Fajardo to be the first to defend her fellow playmakers who are often under scrutiny despite being under-the-radar on the court.
“Hindi lang kasi yan puro laro eh. Mayroon din siyang in-game na hindi nakikita ng mga tao. Wala naman yung mga tao sa training. Hindi naman nila nalaman kung ano meron ba talaga sa isang team," Fajardo said.
"Kung yung focus ng discussion na 'to is bakit may maraming naba-bash na setter dahil sa decision making, hindi lang siya because walang tiwala yung setter sa isang spiker. Hindi natin alam kung what's going on sa loob ng team.
"Wala tayo sa lugar para mag-bash, guys."
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