WHILE players do come and go, more student-athletes have taken the emerging pipeline midway through their college careers to turn pro.
From a coach's standpoint, La Salle's longtime champion mentor Ramil de Jesus gave his frank assessment of such an emerging trend and how college teams are left reeling with the consequences of 'difficult transition periods.'
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"Napakahirap ngayon kasi 'di natin alam kung paano tatagal 'yung players [sa collegiate level] kasi " — lalo na ngayon na maraming nawala," said de Jesus.
Difficult as the current pro league landscape might be to an extent for college teams, de Jesus is well aware of how pro teams inevitably have their sights set on collegiate leagues as de facto hotbeds for the next crop of rising stars — more so for his Lady Spikers being the titleholders.
"Ang hirap nu'ng transition so hindi mo alam kung hanggang kailan ka sasamahan nung bata sa college. And then talagang 'yung mga nasa commercial team, talagang ina-eye talaga siyempre lalo na kaming defending champions, madaming ina-eye sa players namin, mga tina-target nila kung sino 'yung gusto nila para makatulong sa team nila," de Jesus explained.
Champions' struggles
In light of key losses from last year's title-winning team such as Jolina dela Cruz, Mars Alba, Fifi Sharma, and Justine Jazareno, de Jesus gave further insight on the specific adjustments that the team had to make — particularly in the blocking department.
"Napakahirap nu'ng transition na sinasabi nga ni Em (Provido) na mahirap palitan 'yung position ng middle. Last year kasi, alam naman natin since nung senior high, nai-train na natin then ito lang 'yung time na medyo okay na siya, pwede na pakawalan kumbaga, na-polish na natin, by the time na kailangan nang pakinabangan ng team, nawawala.
"'Yun 'yung pinakamahirap na part sa mga coaches."
De Jesus added: "Ang maganda lang ay meron kang ite-train na bago at ready nang punan 'yung position so 'yun 'yung magandang nangyari. Ngayon kasi may mga players ka na na gusto nilang gampanan or maglaro sa ganu'ng position na nawala sa'yo."
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