All for Love

Chapter 33

Alyssa's POV

Today's our last game for the first round. We're gonna go up against a veteran team, Philippine Airforce. Kinakabahan ang iba and they also feel pressured dahil mga bata daw sila and Airforce is comprised of veterans who played for more than 10 years.

Alyssa: "Girls relax lang kayo. Whatever the outcome of today's game, we have to accept it. We'll just take it one point at a time okay? I know you're feeling nervous and pressured, shrug it off. Just play happy inside the court, let's give our best and enjoy the game." Sabi ko sa kanila habang nasa dugout pa kami getting ready.

Bea: "Ate Ly's right. Let's not put pressure on ourselves, whatever happens, we'll take this as a lesson." Sabi ni Bea. She has always been vocal and I can see that she's a good leader.

Jia: "Let's sing na lang Bubbly together so that we can relax." Sabi naman ni Jia. Kinuha niya ang phone and speakers niya and started playing the song. The song Bubbly is very special to us, kasi that's all we played in the dugout during Finals Game 4 against La Salle last S76. It is our official team song, kasi by listening to it, narerelax kami and it gives us positive vibes. After we listened to the song, nagdasal muna kami before going inside the arena for the official warm-up.

When we went inside the arena, punong puno ang venue at naghiyawan sila when they saw us. Nakakataba ng puso dahil marami ng tao ang sumusuporta sa volleyball, kahit na anong team pa yan pero I'm happy na napapamahal na sa puso ng tao ang sport na ito.

Nakita ko naman agad sila Tito Bong, Dani, Thirdy at Cienne. Hindi daw makakanuod si Kiefer dahil may commitment siya sa Iloilo, si Tita Mozzy naman ang commentator namin for this game. Lumapit ako sa kanila and greeted them at bumalik din agad sa warm-up. Nag spiking drills lang kami, service receive and floor defense. Pagkatapos ng warm-up nagsimula na ang game.

Kakatapos lang ng 2nd set and Airforce is on the lead, they got the first two sets pero hindi naman masyadong malayo ang scores namin. Nag meditate lang kami and before we went back in the court, kinausap ko muna ang team mates ko.

Alyssa: "Girls, I know kinakabahan kayo. Don't be nervous, focus lang tayo and just be happy. Huwag niyong isipin na lamang ng 2 sets ang kabilang team, just think of it na 0-0 pa. Kaya pa natin to, let's start from smiling and everything else will follow. Okay? 1 2 3."

ALE: "Heartstrong!"

We were a bit slow in the beginning of the 3rd set, pero after time out nakukuha na namin ang confidence and our floor defense is working na. Nakakaproud dahil nag step up talaga ang iba especially si Bea and Jia, and na motivate naman ang iba na mag step up rin that's why we were able to get the 3rd and 4th set. Pinakita talaga ng girls na lumalaban sila.

Simula na ng 5th set at nagpapalitan lang kami ng points sa kabilang team. It was a very intense set, dito na makikita kung anong team talaga ang magpapakita ng hunger to win. Score is now 16-17, match point for Airforce. Serve nila, receive ni Gizelle, set ni Jia sa akin tumalon ako as if I was going to spike it real hard pero nag drop ball lang ako. The score is tied 17-17, my turn to serve at nag service ace. Naghiyawan ang mga tao, match point for our team pero tumawag ng time out ang Airforce. After time out bumalik na kami sa court, still my serve. Poor reception sa kabilang team pero naiangat ito, pero on the 2nd touch there was a miscommunication kaya we won the game. Nagsitakbuhan ang ibang team mates namin sa gitna and celebrated.

Pumunta kami sa gitna ng court at binati din ang kabilang team for a good game. Bigla naman akong hinila ng CSR dahil ako daw ang player of the game. Pero bago pa man ako nakapagsalita, biglang nawala ang ilaw sa loob ng arena. Wrong timing naman ng brownout. I was about to talk to the CSR pero naramdaman kong wala na siya sa tabi ko, kaya nanatili na lang ako sa tinatayuan ko.