Trisha Tubu, surprised to win the Best Opposite Award in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, initially felt pressure from the recognition, but received some much needed support from coach Shota Sato.
In just her second season in the league, Trisha Tubu has already brought home the Best Opposite Award during the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
The 23-year-old hitter for the Farm Fresh Foxies claimed the award after amassing 123 points, the most among local opposites. She also led in efficiency with a 36.77 percent success rate among local spikers.
But the Farm Fresh Foxies star revealed she had no clue about winning the award until the day of the Reinforced Conference final.
“Actually nagulat lang din po ako nung sinabi sakin ni Ate Kiara [Cruz] na pumunta ka ng awarding. Sabi niyang ganun, so hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko dun. Kasi 'yun nga po, akala ko kailangan lang ng representative per team,” Tubu shared to reporters.
“Tapos nung morning, sabi sa'kin, 'Congrats Tubs. Punta kang awarding.' Tapos nagulat po ako. Talagang wala akong idea bakit ako, ba’t ganun,” she added.
As she took home her first individual award in the PVL, Tubu admitted that she felt pressure. But her coach, Shota Sato, helped her reframe the situation.
“Medyo napressure. Sabi ko kay coach [Shota], I’m pressured because of that award. Pero sabi nga ni Coach na mahalin ko 'yung pressure na 'yun, tapos lagi kong tandaan na deserve ko 'yun, na tinrabaho ko 'yun,” said Tubu.
“So, yakapin ko ‘yung award na binigay sakin kasi para sa'kin ‘yun. Laging sinasabi sa'kin. Sabi ko, parang hindi ko naman yata deserve 'yun. Tapos sabi niya, 'No, you worked hard,' sabi niyang ganun,” she added.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Asaka Tamaru, Shota Sato look to integrate Japanese style of volleyball to Farm Fresh]
Tubu will have another opportunity to win the Best Opposite Hitter award as the Foxies compete in the Invitational Conference.
Despite falling to the defending champions Kurashiki Ablaze in their first match, Tubu is relishing the opportunity of playing against the top teams to further improve their skills as a team.
“Syempre masaya po dahil top teams po 'yung nandito tapos may foreign teams pa, nabigyan kami ng chance na makapaglaro dito. Masaya po kasi dagdag experience samin,” said Tubu.
“Even ‘yun nga, na-straight sets kami pero marami parin po kaming takeaway ngayon na magagamit po namin sa next games namin and ‘yun, sa upcoming All-Filipino,” she added.
Up next for Tubu and the Foxies will be the Cignal HD Spikers tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.