Bernadeth Pons has been performing like a Most Valuable Player awardee since the start of the season. In fact, she has been making a mark for the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws since she entered the UAAP four years ago.
In her final hurrah as a collegiate star, she's been hell-bent on accomplishing one thing: bring back the championship that has eluded her university for a decade. She has driven the team to four straight Final Four appearances, but she's tired of always falling short in the semifinal stage.
The Lady Tamaraws finally made a breakthrough on Saturday. They claimed their first ticket to the finals since Season 71 by ousting the Ateneo Lady Eagles in a hard-fought four-setter.
As expected, Pons displayed her all-around brilliance in the game (17 points, 16 digs, and 19 receptions). It's pretty evident how she badly wanted to take home the victory.
They looked dominant in the first two sets, feasting on Ateneo's multiple errors. But then the Lady Eagles triumphed in the third period, and from there, Pons knew that she needed to lead the team in regaining control.
"We were robbed of the third set. So I told myself, I need to take charge again. It's really needed because this is my last year. I said, no mercy, give it my all. Whatever happens, I need to give my all," said Pons in Filipino.
FEU head coach George Pascua trusted his skipper to deliver the goods when it mattered. Pons scored on a couple of kills that sent the Lady Tams to match point, and Pascua would have wanted her to seal the win with another blow.
"The game plan was to give it to Pons. I wanted her to deliver the final kill. Unfortunately, it did not materialize but my instruction was to give it to her and look for her," the mentor said about their final point, which turned out to be a block on Ateneo's top scorer Jhoana Maraguinot.
Pascua was grateful that the rest of the players responded to his challenge of stepping up in the contest. Chin-Chin Basas, in particular, made a lot of vital plays en route to her 17 points built on 12 attacks, three aces, and two blocks.
"As I told them, it shouldn't be Ateneo against Pons. It should be against the whole team. I talked to Chin and asked her to step up so that our offense will be balanced, not just focused on Pons," he said.
"Pons does everything, receiving and spiking. If she gets exhausted and Chin does not step up, it would be difficult," Pascua went on. "We were able to manage it, with the help of the receivers at the back. Without them, we won't be able to execute our combination plays."
As the Lady Tamaraws gear up for their finals battle with either La Salle or National University, expect Pons to channel the best version of herself.
After all, this is her last shot, her last opportunity to win that UAAP trophy.
"I will still give it my all. I'll be all out because it's my last year and this is our last chance," vowed Pons. "We achieved our goal of reaching the finals, but there's still one more goal - the championship. We'll work hard for it in training, and more importantly, in the actual game."