JUST four days ago, Arah Panique was in the middle of a contentious call that ultimately ended as a National U loss to La Salle.
It was a decision that allowed the Lady Spikers to sweep the eliminations and automatically advance to the finals, while forcing the Lady Bulldogs to have to go through the stepladder before getting to the title series.
Teary-eyed and all, Panique admitted to her massive mistake. And with one game still to go in the elims, despair, disappointment, and doubt could have become dark clouds hanging over her and her teammates' heads.
Instead, what came of the costly error-turned-costly loss was a resounding response.
In another five-setter, this time against University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday, Panique delivered 21 attacks, including two blocks one ace, as well as six excellent digs.
Even better, the ending was different: a big-time performance leading to a big-time win with big-time implications. The two-time defending champions were locked in to the second seed, also earning for themselves a bye, as first, the Golden Tigresses and FEU fight over No. 4 before the victor moves on to another knockout bout vs. three-seed Adamson.
READ: NU secures second seed thanks to furious fightback against UST
Panique's redemption, however, was never just about game day. In fact, at its core was the aftermath of their sorry loss last Sunday.
“Masayang-masaya ako kasi nung game po na yun (vs. La Salle), sadyang nalungkot and nag-breakdown ako. Iyak lang po ako the whole night after ng game,” she shared with SPIN.ph.
While that moment - of her forearm touching the net before La Salle technically committed four touches - lingered longer than she would have wanted, it also became a reference point. It was not a blunder she could just put to the backburner.
“Inisip ko na lang nung game kanina (vs. UST) na hindi na pwede na mangyari ulit yun,” the opposite spiker added.
“Nag-move on lang po talaga kami, especially po ako kasi siyempre po, sa akin po yung sequence na yun. So sa training po, may mindset ako na kailangan ma-improve ko yung lapses ko that time.”
Don't Panique, it's organic
Of course, UST, which was gunning for outright playoff entry itself, tested that reset, going up 2-0 early on in the match.
And yet, despite the deficit, despite the fatigue, National U decided to keep coming.
“Sa third set po, nag-mindset kami na kailangan, makuha namin. Kahit lahat kami, pagod, wala pa kaming pahinga na maayos and pukpukan kami sa training,” said the third-year hitter.
Get it done, they did, and the Lady Bulldogs are one win away from yet another finals - and more pointedly, yet another date with their modern-day rival Lady Spikers.
Most definitely, the goal is crystal clear for Panique, fresh off proving that one moment does not define what comes after.
As she put it, “Nilu-look forward po namin is makuha yung finals tapos mapanalo namin yung finals. Makabawi kami sa kung ano man yung dapat na sa amin sana."
“Kasi honestly, gigil na gigil akong bumawi kasi alam naman po kasi namin, kayang-kaya namin makuha yung game na yun.”
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