PGJC-Navy’s Jau Umandal said that Army-Katinko Oil’s jeers led to his breakout performance in the 2022 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, Thursday.
The national team stalwart dropped a conference-high 29 points on 26 attacks, two aces, and a block in the Sea Lions’ 20-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 victory over the Troopers at the Paco Arena.
And it all had to do with what transpired during the first set of the match.
“So kami kasi ‘di kami pwedeng magpaapekto sa kanila e, so kung ano yung ginagawa nila sa amin siguro sumasabay kami. Although nageenjoy kami, nagfofocus pa rin kami sa game, sinasabayan namin sila pero wala yun, laro lang talaga,” said Umandal.
“Medyo (nakadagdag motivation) kasi kapag nakakascore ako pwede akong mangasar e. ‘Pag ‘di ako nakascore bawal ako mangasar, ‘di ba,” he added.
But Umandal also insisted that all is well between the Armed Forces squads, saying that exchanges like that normally happen especially when both teams face each other.
In fact, the former University of Sto. Tomas star even said that the Troopers have a special place in his heart, revealing that he almost suited up for Army-Katinko Oil before getting the call from PGJC-Navy.
“Di naman bago sa volleyball yun, talaga namang ganun na yun. Lalo na parehas nasa (armed forces) yung naglalaro, so wala lang sa kanila yun. Ganun talaga sila maglaro ever since e, kahit wala pa ako sa Navy nakikita ko ganun talaga sila maglaro,” said Umandal.
“Pero ayun, mga kuya ko ‘yan e kasi dapat sa Army na ako dati kaso pumasok nga ‘tong AVC, yung national team namin so ayun nga, nagdesisyon ako kung anong mas mahalaga sa akin kaya part pa rin sila ng volleyball career ko kasi nakasama ko rin sila.”
