MANILA – Negrense Bernadeth Pons of the Creamline Cool Smashers prefers to win the PVL Reinforced Conference championship more over the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
According to the Talisay City, Negros Occidental native Pons, the MVP citation is the least of her priorities as she eyes the bigger prize for the Cool Smashers.
“Hindi ko rin talaga siya iniisip. Basta every game talaga, gusto ko na mag-contribute para sa team at maibigay ko ‘yung best ko. Kung meron man MVP, bonus na lang ‘yun,” said Pons.
Pons became a favorite to win the PVL Reinforced Conference MVP with frontrunner Brooke Van Sickle now ineligible after the Petro Gazz Angels failed to reach the semifinals round.
The former Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws star has emerged as the Cool Smashers’ top local performer in the absence of veterans Alyssa Valdez, Diana Carlos, and Jessica Galanza.
“Kailangan din talaga mag-step up sa team kasi ang dami talagang wala ngayon. Masaya ako na nakikita ko ‘yung progress ng pinaghihirapan namin every day,” Pons said.
Heading into the Cool Smashers’ semifinals game against Cignal HD Spikers on Saturday, Pons said she is excited to face her former FEU mentor Ceseal “Shaq” delos Santos.
“Syempre excited ako na makalaban din ang Cignal. Alam ko na kilala ako ni coach Shaq, kung paano ako maglaro, pero syempre mas marami na akong baon ngayon,” Pons said.
“Proud siya sa nagiging performance ko ngayon, so syempre isa rin ‘yun sa motivation ko para mas mag-perform pa lalo, lalo na sila ‘yung makakaharap namin,” she added.
“Actually, ‘yung mindset is it’s a do-or-die game para hindi namin makalimutan na laglagan ‘yung game. Do-or-do kasi ayaw talaga naming magpatalo, gusto talaga namin na makuha ‘yung game na ito,” she further said./PN
