SAO CAETANO DO SUL, BRAZIL—The Philippine women’s volleyball team pulled off a commendable effort against one of the toughest Brazilian club teams on Thursday (Friday in Manila) despite coming off a tiring 40-hour trip the night before.
Sao Caetano, the reigning champion in the Superliga B here, dropped only one of the five sets in a tuneup with the national squad in their home court at the Prefeitura Municipal de Sao Caetano do Sul here.
But the 25-20, 25-17, 25-20, 27-29, 15-9 outcome hardly bothered PH headcoach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito and admired his wards for putting up a gallant front on their first match since the team was formed.
Mylene Paat scored nine points, including a pivotal hit that put the Filipinos at game point before open spiker Ces Molina denied the final Brazilian strike at the net to close out the fourth set.
Molina had eight points (seven attacks and one block) as well as Jema Galanza, Kat Tolentino and Alyssa Valdez while Jaja Santiago added six attacks and a block but the team, the lineup of which was only finalized last week, committed 41 errors collectively.We did what we were supposed to do. Despite arriving just last night after the long trip, we did a good job. We will produce better results as they practice more together as a team,’’ said de Brito. The women’s team immediately plunged into action against Sao Caetano just a few hours removed from its first practice at Sportville in Barueri town where the Southeast Asian Games-bound squad has set up a training camp for two weeks.
Good thing there are no injuries on our first day. I’m very proud of them because they believe in themselves,’’ said de Brito.
Setter Kyle Negrito, Dell Palomata and Majoy Baron also made a good account of themselves as well as team captain Aby Maraño, Iris Tolenada and libero Kath Arado. Middle blocker Ria Meneses didn’t suit up for the match and libero Dawn Macandili was fielded in sparingly.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation, led by its president Ramon “Tats’’ Suzara and secretary general Don Caringal, organized the Brazilian camp in preparation for the medal bid of the squad in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The trip of the women’s volley team was backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Rebisco, PLDT and the City of Taguig.
PNVF executive board member and national team chairperson Tony Boy Liao accompanied the team with coaches Odjie Mamon, Grace Antigua, coach/statistician Tina Salak, trainer Raffy Mosuela and physical therapist Grace Gomez.
According to de Brito, the teamwill undergo two practice sessions in the morning and late in the afternoon beginning on Friday until Monday before facing a topnotch club on Tuesday for another tuneup.