Wala pang dahilan upang mag-panic.
Ito ang siniguro ni Kia Forte coach Oliver Almadro sa kabila ng pagkakasadlak ng kanyang koponan sa dalawang magkasunod na talo sa ginaganap na Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference.
Ang pinakabagong koponan sa liga ay unang nabigo sa kanilang debut game sa kamay ng Philippine Army (PA), 25-15, 25-18, 25-11, bago muling nakaranas ng pagkabigo sa ikalawa nilang laro sa kamay ng Philippine Navy (PN), 25-18, 25-23, 25-21.
“I can see the effort and determination of my players but we still lack cohesiveness and familiarity. It was obvious from our second game,” ani Almadro. “If a team is solid, even on end games, they know what to do already. We barely had a month together so the players don’t really know the tendencies of their teammates yet.”
Sa kabila nito, ayaw bigyang pansin ni Almadro ang natamong dalawang dikit na talo at sa halip ay sinsikap niyang mai-Fokus ang atensiyon ng kanyang koponan sa inaasam nilang unang panalo.
“We are positive that soon we will get our rhythm, that cohesiveness and that drive as a team. I’m instilling in them the kind of passion and drive wher you can say that this is my team and I’ll do whatever it takes for my team to be good. I always tell them to treat this team as their family, treat this team as your home,” dagdag pa ni Almadro.
Inaasahan ni Almadro ang mga manlalarong sina Alexa Micek at Bang Pineda na siyang tumapos na topscorers para sa team sa una at ikalawa nilang laro ayon sa pagkakasunod na mag-step-up pa sa kanilang performance habang hindi pa nila gaanong maasahan ang team captain na si Angge Tabaquero na patuloy pa ring binabagabag ng kanyang injury sa balikat.
Sa kabila ng lahat, naniniwala si Almadro na makakaya ng koponan ng Kia na makamit ang inaasam nilang panalo.
“Sometimes it’s not about skills anymore, it’s about what you want. I told my players that if they really want this, we will win. They have to want it. It now boils down to attitude and mindset.” (MARIVIC AWITAN)