Coach Cariño says Perpetual still adjusting as reign in NCAA men's volleyball ends

GMA Network

26-05-2025

By JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG,GMA Integrated News
Dynasties do end, even in NCAA men's volleyball, as the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA was booted out of Final Four contention on Sunday.
The ALTAs' hopes for a five-peat were dashed after they fell short against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in their penultimate game of the Season 100 elimination round.
For head coach Macky Cariño, endgame lapses were the cause of the defeat of the Las Piñas crew.
"Sa game, medyo lapse lang noong dulo. Medyo bumitaw lang noong dulo kasi sa simula parang kakapain mo muna, then 'yung dulo is very important. Nung dulo namin medyo kinapos lang compared nung first set," Cariño told GMA News Online.
[In the game, there were some lapses in the end. We kind of let go near the end. At the start, we were feeling it out, but then the end is very important. Our end, we fell short compared to the first set.]
Beyond endgame lapses, however, Cariño said Perpetual is also making adjustments after the loss of former head coach Sammy Acaylar and the graduation of some of its old veteran players.
"Wala naman nang pupuntahan pa, wala namang dapat sisihin kasi lahat naman nagtrabaho. This season, parang sobrang bigat kasi sa'min kasi 'yung pinaka-tatay namin (Coach Sammy) namatay, so start pa lang ng season mabigat," Cariño said.
"Hinilot namin para umangat ang team, so far kinapos talaga. 'Yung composition ng players namin this year is iba talaga, compared from last year na nandoon powerhouse players namin."
[There's nowhere to go, nothing to regret, because everyone put in the work. This season, it was so heavy for us because our father figure passed away, so from the start of the season, it was heavy... We massaged it so that the team could move up but we came up short. The composition of players is different compared to last year where we had our powerhouse players.]
One major loss for the team this season is two-time NCAA Most Valuable Player Louie Ramirez.
"Ngayon semento pa lang kami, bubuuin pa lang. Hopefully, daanan lang namin sa basic. Balik ulit sa simula, hahanap ng players, kasi kapag may materyales ka talagang magi-improve ang team," Cariño said, adding that teams also improved this season and they are still adjusting to his system as well.
[Right now, we are just cement, we will build it from here. Hopefully, what we'll go through is basic. We go back to the start, find players, because when you have the materials, the tea will improve.]
Season 99 Finals MVP Jeff Marapoc also echoed Cariño's sentiments.
"Para sa akin lang, siguro kulang pa lang talaga kami ngayon. Marami pa kaming pagkukulang na kailangan namin i-work para sa susunod na taon," he said.
[For me, we just didn't have enough this year. We are still lacking a lot that we need to work on in the coming years.]
Not all is lost, however, as the ALTAs can end the season on a high note when they play San Beda University on Wednesday.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News