Philippine Army head coach Melvin Carolino said that their opening day win against PGJC-Navy will be a huge confidence booster for the Troopers in the 2023 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
Down 1-2 against the Sealions, Army pulled off a come-from-behind win in the fourth set after turning a 19-21 disadvantage to a 25-22 win to send the game to a fifth frame.
The Troopers rode their momentum in the decider and ran away with a 25-23, 19-25, 20-25, 25-22, 15-12 win to escape their AFP Olympics rival and chalk up their first win of the tournament last Sunday.
“Malaking bagay 'to kasi high morale kami. Nandun na kaagad, may panalo na kaagad. Maganda yung pasok sa amin ng win kasi opening game tapos panalo kaagad ibig sabihin tataas pa yung morale namin,” said Carolino after the win.
Carolino said that the team was just able to apply everything that they learned in training on the court.
It also helped that Army got a few returning faces in the likes of Karl Ramirez, Mark Ramirez, and Kevin Liberato.
Liberato finished with 16 points including four blocks while Ramirez and Enciso combined for seven points in the five-set win.
“Gumanda lang yung laro ng team. Lumabas lang yung mga hinanda namin na may back row, may block, may receive, lumabas lang yun. Na-apply lang nila yun lahat,” said Carolino.
“Sa team namin maganda kasi malaki ang dinagdag ng pwersa namin kasi dumating yung tatlo naming private. Si Enciso, si Ramirez, saka si Liberato.”
