Sabaldan: Ara Galang, without a doubt is the best player of the game

VICTONARA Galang was only a rookie when De La Salle University successfully defended the title as the best in the UAAP Season 74 last year.

She was Rookie of the Year.

But browsing the team photo line-up in GoArchers.com by Ryan Ong, Maria Mikaela Esperanza in Jersey No. 1 wears the best smile of them all and another sophomore Mika Reyes, the intelligent one.

What motivates me to keep track on this colorful career is their rugged athleticism and down-to-earth bearing on and off the court. Another thing interesting is Mikaela’s striking resemblance to Mindanao champion team captain Eden Faith Maturan. The way they smile, stand and play although Mikaela is more seasoned player in college compared to the Davao spiker.

Speaking of look-alikes, Mae Sanchez as marketing in-charge, represented The North Face Davao at the Scoop Forum of the Royal Mandaya Hotel last week. Her striking resemblance to Myla Pablo of National University makes her a very interesting panelist of the weekly sports program.

The biggest sports and mountaineering gears distributor will bring to Davao City Mylene Dizon and her family for the environmentally conscious Great Campout at Mt. Apo on a date that will be announced later.

In the crowd-drawing encounter between perennial rival Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles and DLSU Lady Spikers at the Filoil San Juan Arena Saturday, Ara Galang was awarded the Best Player citation on her astounding 18 points, 14 attacks and 4 blocks. Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo still owns the season-high record of 30 points, 23 spikes, 4 blocks and 3 service aces.

It was the indestructible Michele Gumabao, who finished them off, 15-13 and put Ateneo again in danger of losing steam in the haunt for that elusive but historic first-ever UAAP championship despite the efforts and consistent performance of Valdez and Ella de Jesus in ricocheting the ball through the tight defenses of the Lady Archers.

Team captains Dzi Gervacio of AdMU and Abigail Mara¤o of La Salle have rekindled the long standing rivalry of the two prestigious Metro Manila universities with the latter taking the momentum for having dealt Ateneo its first loss and even the series at 6-1.

Not only that, the serious injury on the right foot of the reliable Fille Saint Cainglet due to uncontrolled landing will definitely affect the overall psychological make-up of the team. Fille is one fine gem of a senior player.

The coaching staff should not overuse their players beyond their physical limits. That is noticeable and true in the situation of Fille considering that the injury was not caused by physical contact but by her landing hard one leg and the ankle in contortion on contact with the floor and unable to withstand the impact and failure to support the weight of her whole body in utter physical exhaustion. It was grimacing to witness the incident beamed live and replayed in slow-motion camera of Studio 23.

The reason why volleyball was invented after basketball in the 1800 was to separate the players with a dividing net and the games safer for each individual. Extending the players to long playing time more than their physical frame could bear defeats that purpose. More importantly the discipline of the athletes themselves should be strictly monitored. Ultimately, those who have chosen a career in athletics are the ones mainly responsible for their own health and strength.

But then again, do not pressure your athletes to death in your suicidal coaching of “patay kung patay”. You might just end up getting what you asked for, defeated and worse losing your players in costly and painfully agonizing injuries.

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Know your protégés well including their physical capacity, conditioning and preparations. We need to apply due diligence in the all-important role of coaching and playing.

ABS-CBN Beat: It is not about winning or losing, it's about how you play the game. - Zyjan Jaranilla (Wansapanatym)