AFTER weeks of uncertainty surrounding her future, Gerz Petallo is staying with Far Eastern University for one final run, choosing unfinished business over an early jump to the pros.
Petallo formally announced her decision to return after previously admitting she was heavily weighing whether to use her last playing year following the Lady Tamaraws’ disappointing UAAP season 88 campaign.
READ: Shaira Jardio, National U vets, staying put for one more UAAP run
And in the end, it was her attachment to the program and a desire for redemption that won out.
“Tagal ko po talaga inisip at napagdesisyunan to,” Petallo shared to SPIN.ph.
“But ang masasagot ko lang po is my heart is still [with] green and gold. I’m not yet fulfilled.”
The veteran outside hitter has been solid for Morayta this past season, but FEU ultimately failed to reach its third consecutive final four after battling inconsistencies throughout the year.
Back then, Petallo openly admitted how painful the season became for the team.
“Masakit po siya para sa akin, yung season po na ‘to na mababa po kami sa ranking. Lalo na hindi nakapasok sa Final Four,” she also told Spin.ph in an earlier interview.
Still, amid the disappointment, Petallo believed there were lessons the green-and-gold could bring moving forward.
“But yung silver lining po nito, madami po kaming natutunan sa season na ‘to,” she said.
One of the Lady Tams’ biggest issues, according to the senior was its inability to sustain momentum from game to game - something she hopes they can finally address in season 89.
“Nakita namin na inconsistent po yung laruan. Biglang baba, taas, baba, taas,” Petallo uttered.
“Yan po yung pag-aaralan namin kung paano namin may iiwasan next season. Paano maging resilient and maging consistent pa.”
Petallo will not be returning alone either, with fellow seniors Alyzza Devosora, Marga Encarnacion, and Mitzi Panangin also confirmed to SPIN.ph that they decided to stay for another year.
Meanwhile, Jaz Ellarina confirmed her decision shortly after, saying she still was not ready to leave the program behind.
“I’ll play one more year pa po. Di pa po ako ready iwanan FEU,” Ellarina told Spin.ph.
The veteran middle blocker also shared that she hopes to embrace a bigger leadership role next season while rediscovering the confidence she felt she lost last year.
“Siguro I’ll start with being a leader talaga, by setting good examples in and out the court para ma-inspire mga kasama ko na mas maging better each day, lalo na yung mga bata,” she said.
“Mas gusto kong maging aggressive and composed at the same time at ibalik din yung confidence na nawala sakin last season.”
The return of the seniors now gives FEU not just another year of veteran leadership, but also a motivated cornerstone determined to make their final season count.
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