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| Petron's PSL All-Filipino title adds to the list of George Pascua's championships. Ivan Saldajeno |
PASAY—Coach George Pascua led Petron to a fashionable Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference championship conquest, sweeping the entire tournament to win its second straight title.
So how did he find his latest title compared to his past ones?
"Almost the same," Pascua told sportswriters about his comparison of the All-Filipino title to the Grand Prix win last year, when he had reinforcements Erica Adachi and Alaine Bergsma.
He later said that not having Adachi, who he confirmed to be making a return duty with the Blaze Spikers for the import-spiced conference, and Bergsma was the main difference.
"[Sa Grand Prix,] maga-adjust ka doon sa dalawang import, kung paano mo sila i-maximize. Unlike nitong local, kahit sino pwede mong palaruin," Pascua elaborated.
On the other hand, winning a championship in the play-for-pay circuit has significant differences for Pascua than in the collegiate ranks, where he once steered the FEU men's volleyball team to a pennant.
He justified, "Iba itong PSL, kasi professional ito. So magkakaiba ng pakiramdam. FEU naman, alumnus ako roon, yung pride yung nabibigay ko sa school. Pero dito sa PSL, high-level ang tournament dito."
Still, despite the completion of a 13-0 sweep of the conference, Pascua admitted he was surprised upon winning the title behind a star-studded core led by MVP Rachel Anne Daquis, Best Blockers Dindin Manabat and Aby Maraño, and supersub Fille Cayetano.
"Overwhelmed din. As a coach, pwede na akong lumevel sa [mga great volleyball coaches]," said Pascua.
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