When the odds were stacked against PGJC-Navy, team captain Jack Kalingking stood tall, unwavering in his belief that the Sealions had given everything they had in the face of adversity.
Despite a turbulent 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, Kalingking has no regrets, knowing that his squad left everything on the court.
Missing key players and forced to rely on a shorthanded roster, PGJC-Navy faced an uphill battle from the get-go. But through resilience and sheer determination, they soldiered on, showing heart and grit in every game. For Kalingking, that was more than enough.
“Siguro yung masasabi ko sa team na naiwan ngayon, sa mga teammates ko, maganda pa rin naman yung pinakita nila,” said Kalingking, who made his return to the squad after missing the 2024 Invitational Conference due to basic training.
“Siguro, naexperience nila yung nasa first six na sila, lalo na sila Jacob, sila Jeric Caranguian, yung mga naiwan. Pinakita rin nila yung best nila para maibigay yung magandang laban.”
Kalingking’s comeback was expected to boost the team’s campaign, especially after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the 2024 season-ending Invitationals. But just when they thought they could regain their footing, misfortune struck again.
The team’s top hitter, Joeven Dela Vega, was sidelined due to a lung condition, missing their first four games before ultimately being ruled out for the entire tournament. As if that wasn’t enough, the veteran trio of former captain Greg Dolor, Marvin Hairami, and Omar Lioc were pulled from the lineup mid-conference to undergo basic training for their promotions within the Navy—just as Kalingking had the previous year.
“Siguro this conference, hindi para samin,” Kalingking admitted. “Binigay naman namin yung best namin para sa mga teammates namin na nawala sa lineup. Like yung iba, nag-schooling, sila Greg Dolor, captain ball namin, sila Omar and Hairami.”
“Yun, para kay Joeven din yung pinaglalaban namin sa laro. Then siguro para sa next conference, paghahandaan namin sa umpisa palang. Kasi yun nga, short kami ngayong conference.”
With a depleted roster, PGJC-Navy struggled to keep up with the competition, ultimately finishing at the bottom of the standings with a 1-9 record—their first last-place finish since 2016.
Despite the disappointing finish, Kalingking remained steadfast in his appreciation for his teammates who fought tooth and nail to stay competitive. For him, the season wasn’t defined by the standings but by the team’s effort to fight through adversity.
“Yes, this conference talaga parang hindi para samin, lalo na hindi kami nakapasok sa final four. Pero, yun pa rin, binigay pa rin namin yung best namin para mapakita sa mga nanunuod tsaka sumusuporta sa PGJC-Navy,” said the former national team libero.
Head coach George Pascua echoed Kalingking’s sentiments, praising the players who stepped up despite the odds stacked against them. He lauded their resilience and their refusal to make excuses.
“Happy naman ako sa kanila despite na kulang talaga kami. Lumaban pa rin sila. Syempre I’m very proud sa team na kahit ganun ‘yung nangyari sa’min. Yun naman ang instruction sa kanila. No excuses na. Para ‘yung mga kasama nating nawala, sila mismo ma-inspire natin. Kahit wala sila, ‘yung pagkawala nila, nagagawan natin ng paraan.”
With a challenging season now behind them, the Sealions are setting their sights on redemption in the next conference.
For Kalingking and the Sealions, it’s about learning from this experience, strengthening their roster, and coming back stronger.
