PVL: Mean Mendrez credits coach Rald Ricafort for confidence boost at PLDT

PLDT High Speeders’ Mean Mendrez. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Mean Mendrez is grateful for the trust given by PLDT coach Rald Ricafort, giving her confidence as a starting spiker in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

Mendrez shone in her first start for the High Speed Hitters, delivering a game-high 11 points in their 25-19, 25-12, 25-21 victory over the Army Lady Troopers on Thursday at Philsports Arena.

The University of the East standout, who was seldom used at PLDT last year, admitted she is still getting her confidence after a minor knee injury two years ago when she was still with Petro Gazz in the PVL bubble.

“He trusts all of us. He allows us to play our game. It’s always up to us. He’s just there to guide us with our [game] strategy,” Mendrez said of her coach in Filipino.

“I’m so happy [with this win]. We were confident playing our game. Because it’s what we do in practice. That’s why our confidence is getting high every game,” she added.

Mendrez said it has been easy to adjust under the tutelage of Ricafort, who was an assistant coach at Petro Gazz before he was promoted to head coach and won a championship in the Reinforced Conference last year.

“It’s not difficult to adjust. Coach Rald was also my coach before. He also handled my other teammates, too. So we only need to make a few adjustments,” she said.

Ricafort, for his part, was not contented with their first win but he’s glad to see Mendrez and other players stepping up to bounce back from a five-set loss to F2 Logistics last week.

Mendrez and the High Speed Hitters eye their second win against the unbeaten Chery Tiggo Crossovers (3-0) on Tuesday next week at the same venue in Pasig City.

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