BENSON Bocboc went through hell and back over a three-day period as head coach of University of the Philippines in the UAAP and Farm Fresh in the PVL.
On Saturday, Bocboc scored a hard-earned win in his UAAP coaching debut as the Fighting Maroons repulsed a late University of the East comeback en route to a five-set 25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 13-25, 15-13 win.
READ: UP braves through five-set scare from 11-player UE
It was an identical story three days later for the Foxies, who were down two sets to none against Capital1, as Bocboc’s wards pulled off a reverse sweep to end the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference preliminaries on a winning note.
READ: Farm Fresh turns tides on Capital1 in thrilling reverse sweep win
His principle in do-or-die situations whenever his teams are backed against the wall since his time as La Salle and F2 Logistics assistant coach is to always take it slow and steady.
“We start every match naman na sinasabi namin na laging isang puntos muna, kasi isang puntos, then next, then next, kasi hindi namin alam saan matatapos, kung papaano matatapos kaya isa, isa, isa hanggang hindi pa natatapos,” said Bocboc.
More often than not, his players have been responding strong to his call of moving and playing with ease on the court.
“Hindi naman sila sumusuko. Tina-tiya talaga namin kaya nakukuha (pa rin ‘yung panalo). Kaya nung una, ‘yung momentum napunta sa amin, nawala doon sa kabila. Malaking bagay, kasi tumahimik yung kabila, kasi nag-struggle na rin yung kabila, kaya kami pa-isa, isa.
Bocboc added: “Kung kukuha sila, kukuhanin namin uli pabalik yung isa, so sana magtuloy-tuloy hanggang dulo na makuha namin yung goal natin.”
One thing Bocboc learned as veteran champion mentor Ramil de Jesus’ right-hand man over the years is to adapt to the pace to conquer any race.
“Ganun talaga, sometimes slow, sometimes very fast yung umpisa, hindi natin masabi. Basta, as long as we get those points one point at a time, malaking bagay na yun sa’min.”
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