FOUR days after the fact, coach Benson Bocboc justified his unusual move to field a completely different starting rotation for the University of the Philippines in their straight-sets loss to Ateneo.
Coming off a rare 2-0 start in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament, eyebrows were raised on Bocboc’s surprise rookie-laden switch-up which was rued by fans online as a ‘disrespectful underestimation’ of the Blue Eagles.
READ: Why did Maroons change up starters from surprising 2-0 start?
From Bocboc’s standpoint, it was never - and won’t ever be - State U’s intent to undermine its Katipunan rival.
It was simply a matter of testing his young wards on how they can set the tone of games under pressure right off the bat in the opening set.
“Nagkataon, we started good with two (similar) rotations, with the same starting lineup. Two or three days before, I already mentioned to them, we will change. Because in a game, walang kwenta yung second set, third set, fourth set. Yung pinakaimportante yung first set,” said Bocboc.
“Kailangan ma-overcome yun kung rookie ka, first time mo to play on the first set. You have to overcome whatever challenges na nandyan. Ni-review ko, hindi naman (naging masama). Walang problema sa passing namin, walang problema sa attacking namin (bukod sa) blocking siguro.”
Coach Boc to mix and match again?
Will Bocboc wholly shuffle his deck of aces again the way he did against Ateneo? Likely, yes.
“I can say na I can again make them (rookies) as the same (starting) group. Kasi talaga, katulad ngayon, may mga sick sa amin, so sino maglalaro? Hindi naman pwedeng ganung players ulit," he said, as they suffered a second straight setback at the hands of La Salle.
READ: Canino carries La Salle past UP, back into win column
“Mahaba yung UAAP eh. Kadalasan after the second round, tanggal ng dalawa, tatlong tao. They're injured. Tama? Yan yung gagawin natin. ‘Di maglalaro lahat.”
Each decision he has made — and will still make — in his first year as UP coach is geared towards the Fighting Maroons’ improvement alone and never anything personal against their competitors.
“Walang against yun sa kalaban namin. Sabi ko nga, hindi ko alam history ng dalawang team kung meron,” Bocboc said.
“I focus on the UP volleyball team. If I need to build their confidence, I will build their confidence. Sabi ko, pag hinatak kita dyan, binigay ang tiwala, yung tiwala ng team sa'yo, dapat ready ka.”
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