F2 LOGISTICS finally got to taste the sweetness of a championship by ruling the Chooks-to-Go Philippines Superliga Grand Prix.
The Cargo Movers became the first team in the league to come back from a 0-1 Finals series deficit to emerge champions, beating Petron in Game Three, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18, last Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The title conquest, however, was bitter-sweet for Game Three hero Maria Jose Perez, who played her heart out for F2 Logistics despite grieving for his older brother Daniel, who passed away a day before the all-important game.
Perez learned that his brother succumbed to cancer last Friday, but stayed strong, joined the team practice and did not let her teammates—except for skipper Cha Cruz and Head Coach Ramil De Jesus—know about her sorrow.
“She is very professional, her oldest brother just succumbed to cancer,” de Jesus said. “I really salute her. She didn’t want the team to know she is grieving, she did not cry, her performance was not affected and she just gave her all in the game.”
“If she was someone else, that person should have broke down right then and there,” said Cruz, who helped Perez carry the Cargo Movers in Game Three with 16 points on 13 attacks and three service aces plus 12 receptions and eight digs.
Perez did not show any sign of grief and went her usual way, contributing 24 points—all from attacks—and highlighted her game by a championship-clinching spike.
“I didn’t think about the loss in the family. I know I have a big responsibility with my team, so I tried smile and be strong,” the Venezuelan said. “I knew we had this opportunity to win, so I didn’t want to bring sadness to my teammates—but to bring happiness and just give my best for my team.”
Perez eventually broke down in tears shortly after delivering the title-clinching point and the first Grand Prix plum to F2 Logistics.
“It was really hard for me, but I wanted to play for my team, for my teammates, and I also know that my brother would have wanted me to play, as well,” she said.
Perez was named as Most Valuable Player of the conference. She averaged 21 points in the Finals, where the Cargo Movers fought back from a 14-25, 21-25, 16-25 Game One setback last Tuesday.
The Cargo Movers refused to be swept away and won Game Two, 25-20, 24-26, 14-25, 25-19, 15-4.
De Jesus said that Perez was a blessing in disguise to the team as he revealed that the Venezuelan was not their first choice.
“She was not the import who we wanted and we did not expect her to come. But she was the one who brought us here [championship],” said de Jesus, a 10-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion coach with De La Salle.
Perez said she remains uncertain if she will return to power F2 Logistics next season.
“We have talked about it [going back to F2]. I really want to come back, but I haven’t talked to management yet. I think after this [title], we will decide,” she said.