STA. ROSA — Royse Tubino put on full display that in crunch time, memory should be short and belief should be absolute.
Farm Fresh was on the cusp of closing out Creamline in four sets Tuesday, but the match hung in the balance late in the fourth with the Foxies clinging to a 2-1 set lead.
Then came a wobble.
With Farm Fresh ahead, 22-21, Tubino misfired on back-to-back attacks that slammed into the net, handing the Cool Smashers a 23-22 edge and a clear path to force a decider.
But the veteran outside hitter never blinked.
A service error by Creamline's Dij Rodriguez leveled things at 23-all, before she figured in another costly miscue on reception that Tubino quickly punished to restore control, 24-23.
Moments later, Tubino finished it off with an off-the-block hit that sealed the win and completed her personal redemption arc in a matter of minutes.
READ: Farm Fresh stuns Creamline, stays alive for qualifying round spot
Despite committing two critical errors at the worst possible time, Tubino refused to dwell.
“Always naman sinasabi ni coach na paluin lang nang paluin ‘yan kasi mandun lang ‘yung mga kasama mo na ko-cover sa’yo,” she said, echoing the ethos instilled by head coach Koji Tsuzurabara.
True enough, she stuck to that philosophy.
“‘Yung dalawang errors ko na ‘yun, hindi ko na inisip, basta paluin nang paluin ko lang kasi nandu’n naman ‘yung mga kasama ko na magsu-support sa’kin,” she added.
Built for the moment
Tubino’s late-game composure was hardly a coincidence.
A long-time member of the Philippine Army, she has been shaped by a system that demands resilience under pressure, a trait that has seamlessly translated into her volleyball career.
The 33-year-old finished with 18 points, but it was her response to adversity that defined her night.
“Sa sarili ko, parang mas gusto kong naglalaro na pitpitan kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko,” she said.
“‘Yung mga teammates ko naman, kahit mag-error ako or what, nandu’n naman sila sa akin. Basta kapag pitpitan talaga, paluin lang nang paluin mo lang. Wala nang ibang dapat gawin.”
In the end, Tubino boiled it down to two things that carried Farm Fresh across the line when it mattered most: "'Yung tapang lang talaga at tiwala sa sarili ko.”
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