NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin saw good progress from up-and-coming setter Greg Ancheta as he fills the role of Owa Retamar for UAAP Season 87.
Head coach Dante Alinsunurin was glad to see progress on the part of starting setter Greg Ancheta as he is now in charge of manufacturing offense for the NU Bulldogs in their five-peat bid in UAAP Season 87.
After tossing 14 excellent sets in a straight sets win over La Salle on Sunday, the second-year player proved his mettle as the next in line for Owa Retamar, who graduated last season.
Though Alinsunurin acknowledged that filling in for Retamar is not an easy ask, he believes Ancheta is moving in the right direction.
“Sabi ko nga mag-perform lang siya kasi sa totoo, ‘yung kailangan niyang punan is talagang sobrang laki para sa iniwan ni Owa. Pero sabi ko nga, pinaghahandaan naman namin siya. Alam namin na ang collegiate team, anytime aalis ang mga player,” said Alinsunurin after the game.
“Pero sabi ko sa kanya, ‘di mo naman kailangan punan (agad). Trabahuhin mo everyday ‘yung gusto nating mangyari, sumunod ka lang, and ‘yun,” he added.
As the Bulldogs chase a historic five-peat in men’s volleyball, Ancheta performed up to par in the season-opener, despite some areas of improvement still.
He ended up distributing the rock across hitters like Buds Buddin, Leo Aringo, and Leo Ordiales.
“First game niya, sobrang happy ako sa result ng ginagawa niya, although may kailangan pa siyang ayusin o kailangan i-maximize ‘yung binibigay namin sa kanya. Importante lang nakikita ko na lumalaban siya sa ganung sitwasyon kasi ‘yun ang importante sa bata, kung ‘yung mindset niya talaga is gustong gusto niya ‘yung ginagawa (kesa) napipilitan lang siya,” said Alinsunurin.
“Ngayon, nakita ko na ready na siya. Marami pa kaming games, marami pa kaming adjustments, marami kaming matuturo sa kanya na pwede niyang makuha pa. Sana magtuloy-tuloy pa.”
Even his spiker, Buddin, was happy to be able to connect well with Ancheta, especially after seeing how their on-court relationship improved just in time to make waves this season.
“Para sa akin sobrang saya kasi una kaasi pagbalik namin galing Alas, wala pa ‘yung connection namin eh. So nakita ko naman na willing talaga siya mag-improve, nakita ko talaga ‘yung willingness niya sa laro kanina,” said Buddin, who finished with 18 points against La Salle.
“Tinatanong niya ako if komportable ako sa ganyang (set), lagi namin siya ginaguide at minomotivate na kaya niya.”
Ordiales, meanwhile, tried to encourage his teammate not to be caught up with everyone else’s expectations.
“Lagi naming sinasabi na ‘wag niya i-pressure ‘yung sarili niya, laro lang siya kung anong meron siya. Susuportahan namin siya sa kanyang ginagawa,” he said.
NU returns to action quickly on Wednesday, February 19, when the champs face the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.