Maraño’s big heart keeps inspiring F2 teammates
MYLA PABLO might have provided the most firepower offensively and Ivy Lacsina might have delivered the service ace that clinched the 5-set thrilling win for F2 at Creamline’s expense on February 18, but it was Aby Maraño who gave the Cargo Movers the heart to stay the course against the Cool Smashers.
Despite its superstar team captain Alyssa Valdez still out due to her knee injury, Creamline, leaning on star setter Jia de Guzman, and middles Jeanette Panaga and Ced Domingo, as well as wing spikers Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao, proved to be a tough nut to crack as it took all F2’s punches to the chin and was still the first to reach match point, 14-12.
But Maraño’s presence during that stretch strengthened the Cargo Movers as they powered through with four straight points to take the 23-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-23, 16-14 triumph and rose to 3-1 in the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.
“My points are the points of the whole team. All of us worked for it, and no one’s going to win without the help of each and every one on the team, especially the ones coming from ate Aby, who always reminded us that this is ours,” Pablo said, testifying Maraño’s leadership.
“When Ate Aby got fielded, it became our motivation [our confidence seemed to rise]. Credits to our coaches also who keep on reminding us that we should not play the game of Creamline.”
Maraño served like that big sister who got her smaller sister’s back, giving that presence and motivation so that the latter can stand up to the bullies.
Statistically, the former De La Salle Lady Spiker also came through as she notched 14 points before a riveting crowd of 6,765 fans at Ultra where they got treated to hands down the best game of the season thus far.
“Tatlo lang ‘yung sinasabi sabi ko: ‘sa atin ‘to, walang papayag, tibay ng loob’ (I just told them three things: that this game is ours, no one from us is going to give in, and let’s show that inner strength). I kept on saying that to them until I lost my voice,” shared Maraño.
“When I got fielded, I told them that I’ll take care of it. I told Ivy [Lacsina] to get her service in. Me, Kianna [Dy] and Ara [Galang] were the ones defending on the front. In our minds, we were like, ‘Ivy, go get that service ace in the most crucial moment of the match,’ and she delivered.”
With the win, F2 bounced back from its straight sets loss to Chery on February 16 and dealt Creamline its first loss of the season, with the Cool Smashers dropping to 3-1 to share the second spot with the Cargo Movers.
Maraño and the Cargo Movers will next face the Cignal HD Spikers on February 25.