By Arnthea Samantha Marie Gasta & Maria Theresia Recopuerto |
The Montserrat Wolves were unable to halt the Rome Gladiators’ unbeaten run as they lost an electrifying match-up against their rivals, 46-13, leaving Rome to claim the crown of the Women’s Basketball Championships last February 24, 2023. For the Men’s Basketball Championships, the Manresa Vipers finished the elimination rounds at 50-58, punching their ticket to the finals and even capturing the championship over Pamplona Phoenixes, 62-52.
Prior to the championship game, both teams for each category faced weeks of elimination and have made their way to this precarious position. To pull off their goals as a team, Montserrat, Rome, Manresa, and Pamplona clusters have their own set of techniques for preparing for their most awaited matches.
“Our team’s main strategy is to contain and defend the best players in every quarter to make sure that they can score points for the team,” said Ethan Josh Liston, the captain of the Manresa cluster.
Herewith, playing fields serve as battlegrounds to determine which team has the superior playstyle and tactics. Teams can exhibit their character and prove their dominance as they conquer their foes. A team's camaraderie and cohesiveness are what propel them ahead to triumph behind the spectacle that sporting events provide for audiences.
The diversity of the individuals on a team, however, frequently results in personality differences amongst team members, which helps to create a distinctive brand that sets the group apart as a whole. Each team may eventually acquire its own type of chemistry over time. Even if these differences are little, they have a significant impact on a team's performance and can therefore change how a game turns out.
The team's effectiveness may be hampered if members fail to forge a sense of solidarity and solely depend on their unique talents. As a result, players spend a lot of time honing their skills and coordination with one another both inside and outside of the game.
Building up the bond
Ignite cluster teams' athlete lineups vary; some might have a well-balanced combination of novice and seasoned athletes, while others might include primarily of either rookies or veteran athletes. The common goal of winning as a team, which is fueled by their enthusiasm for the sport, is what binds these sportsmen together, whether they are competing against an old teammate, a complete stranger, or someone they once viewed as a rival.
Franchezka Sofia Jebone from Montserrat Wolves Women’s Basketball team believes that finding a common ground with their teammates has allowed the Monsterrat team to become a stronger unit, as she attests, “We're so close that we share each other's water bottles. We don't care who owns it as long as we share.”
Other than their mutual interest in the sport, athletes are also able to create relationships with one another outside the teams’ training sessions. Mikah Escote from the Rome Gladiators Women’s Basketball team explains that keeping everything light off the field helps everyone grow comfortable around each other. "Our main goal was to bond with each other and not really the championship,” Escote revealed.
Ties unsevered
Within each team exists a unique connection that is deemed essential in their play style, requiring each member to do their part in solidifying the team.
“Though our main goal is to win, we also wanted to have fun and meet other players because you do not have to be competitive every time,” Christian Canja from Pamplona stated.
Similarly, the Rome Gladiators have transcended beyond the different backgrounds that each player carries, paving a common path for the team to navigate through together. “Our friends cheering and printing photos of us is relieving,” Escote explains that having each other’s backs was the confidence booster that allowed the team to play at a higher level.
Teams' bonds have a significant impact that is frequently undervalued yet is crucial to success. Team chemistry enhances each team member's skill set as if they were components of a well-oiled machine, complementing each other's responsibilities and turning discrete pieces into integral components that make up a greater whole.
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