Bernadeth Pons is back in the PVL with the Creamline Cool Smashers, but she admits she isn’t fully back to her old self yet.
The 29-year-old outside hitter missed the PVL On Tour and the Invitational Conference while playing beach volleyball for Alas Pilipinas at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. She returned to the Cool Smashers’ lineup on Saturday, October 17, and said she still feels a step behind on the indoor court.
“Medyo nangangapa pa rin ako sa loob ng court, nalilito pa rin, and ‘yun. So tatrabahuhin ko pa rin,” said Pons.
“Marami akong highlights today, bloopers pala,” she joked.
Bernadeth Pons Still Contributes
Her numbers said otherwise. Coming off the bench, Pons had 8 points and 12 excellent digs in Creamline’s 27-29, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 win over the Galeries Tower Highrisers at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The former league MVP said she has only been back in indoor training for about two weeks. When her coach asked if she had adjusted, she told him her timing was still off.
“Ayun, it’s good to be back, ‘yung adjustment… Tinanong nga ako ni coach kahapon kung naka-adjust na ba ako. Sabi ko, medyo off-timing pa; kakabalik pa lang. Mag-tu-two weeks pa lang, bumalik sa training din at naglaro na rin agad,” she said.
“Ayun, tatrabahuhin ko pa rin sa training, mahaba pa naman ‘yung tournament, madami pang time na ma-improve ko ‘yung kailangan kong ma-improve para mas magamay ko pa ‘yung indoor,” she added.
The Southeast Asian Games gold medalist explained that the switch from sand affects her in two ways. Months on the beach made her feel lighter and quicker off the ground. But that extra speed indoors sometimes throws off her timing, and the hard court is tougher on her knees.
“From sand to indoor, mas mabilis kang gumalaw sa indoor. Yun nga lang ‘no, sa sobrang bilis mo, wala ka na sa timing. Ayun, magaan din tumalon, kasi galing ka sa sand. Mahirap sa sand, pagdating mo sa indoor,” said Pons.
“Noong unang training ko, feeling ko na wala akong suot na shoes, kasi ang gaan, ang sarap tumalon. Pero masakit lang sa tuhod dahil matigas, so laging may pros and cons. Pero ‘yun ‘yung sabi ko kanina na marami pang time na makapag-adjust. Kailangan lang talaga mag-focus at magtrabaho sa training,” she added.
A Vote for the All-to-Play Format
Pons believes the conference’s all-to-play format will help her settle in. It gives every player regular minutes, so she has time to readjust without being overworked.
“Ayun, sobrang good thing din for me. Lahat din… Talagang may time lahat para maka-recover kahit papaano, para hindi lahat masiyadong babad,” she said.
“And sobrang malaking bagay din siya na ma-expose din lahat ng member ng team, mabigyan ng chance na makapaglaro. Ayun nga kailangan namin mag-perform sa training pa lang, and si coach na bahala doon. Problema niya na ‘yun kung sino ilalagay niya.”
Bernadeth Pons and the rest of the Cool Smashers will next face the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Saturday, October 24, 6:00 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
