TEAM REBISCO
TEAM REBISCO is one of two Philippine club teams competing in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima.
With Brazilian coach Jorge Souza de Brito at the helm, Team Rebisco hopes to go deeper in the October 1 to 7 tournament with a mix of veteran and young talents.
Aby Maraño, a regular national team fixture with her leadership and being a motivator, will be Team Rebisco’s captain.
Maraño also will be a good mentor to fellow middle blockers Imee Hernandez and Ivy Lacsina, who will make their debut in the senior level.
In offense, Team Rebisco has a bevy of talented spikers in outside hitters Eya Laure, Jema Galanza and Faith Nisperos, as well as Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Mhicaela Belen in the opposite position.
Rhea Dimaculangan and Kamille Cal will take turns in setting up plays for Team Rebisco.
Liberos Jennifer Nierva and Bernadette Pepito, on the other hand, are looking forward to gain the needed experience in international play.
Maraño and Dimaculangan played in the 2017 edition held in Ust-Kamenogorsk in Kazakhstan for Rebisco-PSL, the last Philippine club to compete in the continental club tournament.
TEAM CHOCO MUCHO
THE Philippines’ other club – Team Choco Mucho – hopes to make an impact in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The presence of the country’s best spikers – Kalei Mau, MJ Phillips and Kat Tolentino – will put Team Choco Mucho in a prime position to do well in the Oct. 1-7 tournament.
Outside spikers Mau and Phillips, and opposite hitter Tolentino will make their national team debut.
Mau, who was allowed by the FIVB to represent the Philippines in international competitions last June, has a vast experience in playing overseas, having played in club leagues in France and Puerto Rico.
Handled by coach Odjie Mamon, Team Choco Mucho will have setter Iris Tolenada as its skipper. Tolenada is back doing national team duty after six years, having suited up in the Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship in Tianjin, China in 2015.
Team Choco Mucho can also count on Mylene Paat, Kianna Dy and Tin Tiamzon on offense, while Ria Meneses, Majoy Baron and Dell Palomata will be the forces to reckon with in the middle.
Deanna Wong will be Team Choco Mucho’s other playmaker, while Dawn Macandili, who was touted as one of Asia’s best liberos, will be there once again to keep the ball flying.
Team Rebisco and Team Choco Mucho have been doing bubble training in Lipa, Batangas since September 2.