PGJC-Navy is not all about Jao Umandal.
And that reminder was learned the hard way by VNS-One Alicia after the Sealions struck them in the 2022 Spikers' Turf Open Conference, 19-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-21.
Yes, Umandal scored 16 points in the victory but he was not the high man as Greg Dolor rose to the occasion with 17 points on 14 attacks and three kill blocks.
But if there was one person not surprised with Dolor's performance, it is PGJC-Navy coach Cecille Cruzada.
"Si Greg kasi actually isa talaga siya sa pinagkakatiwalaan ko sa team," said the only woman bench tactician in the seven-team field of the country's first and only men's league. "Kasi si Greg, kahit hindi mo sabihan na mag ensayo, mageensayo siya. Kahit may ensayo kami, meron pa siya para sa sarili niya.
"Pwede ko siyang itapat kay Jao."
Umandal was high and above everyone in the scoring department with already 98 points in five matches played, but Dolor isn't far enough, ranked 11th with 55 points.
But more than his stats, it is the intangibles that Cruzada likes about her captain.
"Kahit wala ako pero nandiyan si Greg, mataas 'yung expectation ko sa kanya pagdating din sa laro kasi nakikita ko 'yung pagiging leader niya sa loob."
