How ironing out internal disputes led Arellano Chiefs to historic maiden crown
NCAA
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News
What started out as a season marred by internal misunderstandings and tensions ended with Arellano University standing as a united front, cementing its name in history books by ruling the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball.
Before closing their campaign triumphantly, the Chiefs had to first resolve issues that went beyond the court.
Newly minted Finals MVP and graduating outside spiker Carl Berdal revealed that the Chiefs faced multiple conflicts that they confronted head-on after each defeat, something that happened frequently in the early part of their campaign.
Unlike how they ended the season, the Chiefs opened their bid with exactly the opposite result after absorbing a 22-25, 25-27, 29-27, 19-25 loss to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
The Chiefs then suffered another pair of losses in their next four games, winning over Lyceum of the Philippines University and then defending champion University of Perpetual Help System DALTA but losing to San Beda University and Mapua University.
But instead of letting those setbacks drag them down further, the Chiefs turned the heartbreaks and rifts into their fuel to revive their campaign.
"Lower po 'yung expectations namin dito this season kasi nagkaron kami ng slow start. Nu'ng first round puro kami talo, hindi namin alam kung paano kami mananalo, kung paano kami magiging united as a team," Berdal told GMA News Online.
"Para maging buo kami, nagusap-usap kami, naglabasan kami ng sama ng loob. May mga nag-aaway, may mga hindi nagkakainintidihan pero hindi po namin 'yun ginawa para lalo kaming matalo. Ginawa namin 'yung mga open forum na 'yun para mas lalo kaming matatag."
Those heart-to-heart sessions lit the fire within the Chiefs.
After racing to a sluggish 2-3 start, the Legarda crew prevailed in their next four games against Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Jose Rizal University, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, and Emilio Aguinaldo College to end the first round holding a 6-3 card.
The Chiefs evolved into a more dangerous team in the second round and the playoffs, where they won 11 of their last 13 games, highlighted by a massive eight-game winning streak that included two victories over twice-to-beat Mapua in Final Four and another two over the Knights to win it all.
Arellano head coach Bryan Vitug echoed Berdal's sentiments, sharing their confrontations paved the way for their unity and, ultimately, their championship run.
"'Yung mga struggles namin 'yun ang tingin kong naging turning point kasi everytime na nag-struggle kami meron kaming komprontahan, tampuhan. So 'pag nagkakatampuhan kami, pinaguusapan agad namin at nakikinig kami sa bawat isa," the rookie head coach said.
"Hindi lang naman porke coach ako, ako na masusunod lagi. So pinakikinggan ko rin 'yung side ng mga players tapos collective effort lagi sa communication namin."
That solidarity was on full display in the championship round, where Berdal joined forces with fellow seniors in AC Guinto, Adi Villados, Anfernee Curamen, and Jiwen Sinuto to capture the title that had been eluding them in the last 16 years.
"Sobrang saya kasi with so much pride and honor po, nire-represent namin po namin 'yung school namin at nag-champion kami na first time para sa Arellano dito sa NCAA. Para sa Arellano po ito," Berdal added.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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