MANILA, Philippines – The Hope Christian High School girls volleyball team entered the Rebisco Volleyball League Girls 18 & Under National Finals with little or hardly any expectations. But if you ask its longtime head coach Jerry Yee, he is just happy to be there.
“I am happy to be back and concentrating on Hope’s high school program,” said the affable coach. “No regrets naman but the time I spent coaching in college didn’t afford me too much time to concentrate on Hope’s team. That is not an excuse, siyempre. So now we’re in rebuilding mode. One step at a time.”
Hope Christian High landed sort of a wild card slot to the RVL National Finals and on the first day of competition at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna, Yee’s girls made a very good impression by defeating University of Mindanao-Tagum, 25-20, 26-24.
“It’s a good lousy win,” laughed Yee after the match. “Panget kasi yung execution namin but that is because kinakabahan yung mga bata. It’s not the UAAP but there’s a big crowd in a big and nice gym tapos televised pa (over Solar Sports and on livestream via the RVL’s Facebook page). It is good preparation and exposure.”
The Mindanaoans started well and led in the early part of the first set, but Hope wreaked havoc on the service end to get back in the game. With UM scrambling on defense, Yee’s squad took the first set, 25-20.
In the second set, with the match seemingly in the bag, Yee went to his bench and UM came roaring back to tie the match at 24-all. A service error hurt UM after which a check ball ended the match in favor of Hope.
“That second set, it is my fault because I wanted to expose the younger players,” admitted Yee. “Sa high school, you want exposure so you risk ng konti. It’s a good thing, nakuha natin nga pabalik.”
Among Yee’s young wards are the younger sister of Yee’s former University of the Philippines players, Mae Basarte and Justine Dorog in Chenae Basarte and Jessa Dorog. Also in the Hope squad is the younger sister of UP basketball player Janjan Jaboneta, Irah Anika Jaboneta.
“It’s good to know that the old Shakey’s league is being continued by Rebisco,” pronounced Yee. “This is a good grassroots program with very good exposure for all.”