IT looks like Jimmy Alapag isn’t the only ‘Mighty Mouse’ in Philippine sports — at least in the eyes of Far Eastern University’s legendary setter-turned-coach Tina Salak.
Gerz Petallo, the Lady Tamaraws’ co-leading scorer in UAAP Season 87, has been the living embodiment of heart over height in the elimination round upon firing 180 points in 14 matches (12.86 per game).
READ: Petallo stars in FEU four-set conquest of La Salle to end elims
That's good for 10th best in all of the league - and the outside spiker stands at just 5-foot-5, with shoes.
But how was she associated with the monicker - attached to Alapag, a six-time champion and one-time MVP in the PBA - to begin with?
“Si coach T (Salak) kasi talagang […] tinatapat ako sa bigger spikers. Kung hindi man po ako nakaka-block na talagang sobrang taas na gano'n, kasi maliit nga ako, I have the timing para mag-mark [ng kalaban] para better yung defense,” Petallo shared with SPIN.ph.
While it’s unclear for her why she’s worthy of such a name apart from her height, the 21-year-old winger considers her agility and versatility as the silver linings embedded within her smaller stature — just like basketball's 'Mighty Mouse.'
“Hindi ko pa alam bakit talaga 'Mighty Mouse’ ako, pero one factor din kasi na nagko-contribute ako on different departments, like sa serves,” said Petallo.
“Ako lang din po kasi yung maliit sa court eh. Other than the libero, parang ako lang yung pinakamaliit na spiker.
“Sobrang liit ko po kung alam niyo lang. Sobrang liit, pero I'm grateful talaga na meron akong skills na ganito na binigay ni Lord and pinagtrabahuan ko rin po ‘to. That's the legend of ‘Mighty Mouse.’”
Petallo na pampanalo
Petallo did admit how it wasn’t always easy to go toe-to-toe with towering spikers and blockers on the other side of the net.
With the help of FEU deputy coach Jeremiah Barrica — a former beach volleyball player — Petallo was able to integrate more variations in her attacking game that gave her more than a few openings to land her hits.
“Sobrang hirap as small spiker, tapos katapat ko sobrang laki na blocker, pero pinaghirapan ko rin po. Sa training ko talaga nakukuha eh. Dinamihan ko yung variations ng palo kasi maliit nga ako, mabilis ako mabasa, mabilis ako madepensahan, mabilis ako ma-block,” said Petallo.
“Thanks to coach Doy [Barrica], special mention siya kasi tinuruan niya ako ng variations sa palo talaga, more on technical side siya. Inalis ko yung intimidation nga na ‘pag naba-block ako, naba-block out ako. Inalis ko yun. Pinaghirapan ko talaga sa sarili ko.”
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