Toughest season tests PLDT, Ricafort hails bronze finish as hard-earned milestone

“Napakahirap. ‘’Yun nga, hindi man namin nakuha ‘yung pinaka-goal na mag-Finals, pero ibibigay ko sa players ang commendation na nilaban ’to kahit papaano,” said Ricafort.

“Thankful kami, milestone pa rin na nakuha namin ‘yung third this time. Napakahirap nitong ginagawa namin, at least kahit papaano nakuha namin ‘yung bronze,” he added.

(C) PVL Images

Still, Ricafort stressed that nothing is guaranteed in the league. He pointed out that strong finishes from previous conferences do not automatically translate into continued success as competition continues to grow fiercer each season.

PLDT had previously won the first two conferences of the season — the PVL On Tour and the Invitational — but settled for fourth place in the Reinforced Conference last November.

“Hindi kasi siya automatic, eh. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagkakaroon ng ganoong thinking na porke’t maganda ‘yung inabot namin sa past conferences, automatic na sure na sure na papasok kami sa Finals,” the three-time PVL champion coach said.

“Napakalakas ng mga kalaban this conference, napakalakas na nagbalikan ‘yung mga national teams, at naka-merge nila ‘yung ibang teams. ‘’Yun, mahirap siya pero kung ito muna ‘yung ibibigay sa akin this time, siyempre sobrang thankful kami,” he added.

For Ricafort, the bronze finish carried deeper meaning for the team, especially mentally, after falling short in the battle for third against Akari in the Reinforced Conference.

“Ayun, ‘yung best finish, kasi nga naka-ilang conference rin kami na kinakapos pagdating doon sa battle-for-third kasi wala na kami doon mentally. So ayun, babalikan pa rin namin ‘yung goal namin as a team. Pag nag-work talaga sila para sa kasama nila, ito talaga ‘yung nagiging result.”