The scent of fresh-cut grass always takes me back to that championship game in college - the one where I learned the hard way that preparation isn't just about showing up. I remember sitting in the locker room two hours before kickoff, my stomach doing flip-flops as I mentally retraced everything I'd done that week. Had I hydrated enough? Did I get proper rest? Was my gear all sorted? That's when our captain walked in and said something that stuck with me: "Champions aren't made on the field - they're made in the days leading up to it."

Looking at the upcoming MPBL games at Ynares Arena 2 Montalban this Monday, April 7th, I can't help but think about what those players must be going through right now. While fans will only see the 4 p.m. clash between Marikina and Muntinlupa, or the 6 p.m. face-off between Pasig and Bacolod, or even the 8 p.m. showdown between Abra and host Rizal Xentromall, the real work happens days before they step onto that court. I've learned through years of playing and coaching that there's a crucial checklist every athlete needs to run through, what I like to call "before soccer championship: 10 essential steps every player must take."

First off, let's talk about sleep - and I'm not just talking about getting 8 hours the night before. From my experience, you need at least 72 hours of quality rest leading into a big game. I used to make the mistake of cramming sleep like it was some final exam, but your body doesn't work that way. The players preparing for these MPBL matches should already be in their optimal rest cycle by now. And nutrition - don't get me started on that. I remember one tournament where I ate something questionable 48 hours before our semifinal and paid the price with sluggish performance. Now I stick to my meal plan religiously for the entire week before any important match.

Then there's the mental preparation aspect, which I think many young players underestimate. Visualizing game scenarios, studying opponents' patterns - these aren't just buzzwords. When I watch teams like Pasig and Bacolod prepare for their 6 p.m. encounter, I wonder how much tape they're reviewing, how many hours they're spending on understanding each other's tendencies. The best players I've worked with always had this ritual of spending at least 30 minutes daily visualizing different game situations during the week leading up to important matches.

Equipment check is another thing we often overlook until it's too late. I'll never forget the time I showed up with mismatched cleats for a championship game - don't ask how that happened - and spent the first half constantly distracted. Now I have a strict 24-hour pre-game equipment inspection routine. For these MPBL teams converging on Ynares Arena 2 Montalban, something as simple as ensuring their footwear has proper grip could make the difference between victory and defeat.

What many people don't realize is that preparation isn't just physical - it's emotional too. Building the right mindset takes days, not hours. I always tell young players to start their mental switch from "practice mode" to "game mode" at least 96 hours before important matches. The teams playing this Monday should already be in that transition phase, finding that perfect balance between competitive fire and calm focus. Looking at the schedule - Marikina versus Muntinlupa at 4 p.m., followed by Pasig against Bacolod at 6 p.m., and Abra versus host Rizal Xentromall at 8 p.m. - each team has its own unique challenges to prepare for, both physically and mentally.

The truth is, championship moments are just the culmination of hundreds of small decisions made in the days and weeks leading up to the game. Whether it's choosing to have that extra hour of sleep instead of going out, or doing those mobility exercises when you'd rather be relaxing, or studying game footage until your eyes hurt - these are the real building blocks of success. As Monday approaches for these MPBL teams, I can't help but feel excited knowing that somewhere, right now, players are going through their own versions of these essential steps, writing their own stories before they ever step onto that court.