BARUERI, BRAZIL—Preparing for its next assignment, the Philippine women’s volleyball team has intensified its practice sessions on Saturday by giving importance to defense and tactics that could serve the country well in the coming 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The PH spikers will play another tuneup on Tuesday against a top-caliber Brazilian club that headcoach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito has yet to name, the second of at least five high-level matches on tap to whip them up in superior shape in time for the Games less than a month from now.We always add something new each time we go into practice. I can see the improvement day by day, so when we play the next match, we’ll become better,’’ said de Brito after concluding a pair of workouts on Day 3 of the team’s two-week training camp at Sportville here. Middle blockers Jaja Santiago and Dell Palomata were bunched with open spikers Alyssa Valdez and Ces Molina, opposite spiker Mylene Paat, setter Iris Tolenada and libero Dawn Macandili, who all worked on the defensive pattern instilled by the coaching staff. The other group focused on ball control and receiving with open spiker Jema Galanza, opposite spiker Kat Tolentino, setter Kyle Negrito and libero Kath Arado teaming up with middle blockers Aby Marano, Majoy Baron and Ria Meneses. We did tactics in the morning and put all the guys together in the afternoon, but we used only five players on each side,’’ said de Brito, who was competently assisted by coaches Odjie Mamon, Grace Antigua, Raffy Mosuela, Tina Salak and therapist Grace Gomez.With five (players), you will do more using less guys. They have to move more, react more and cover more space than usual,’’ added the Brazilian tactician who captured a gold medal with Brazil’s men’s volleyball team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The Philippine National Volleyball Federation under its president RamonTats’’ Suzara has formed the national women’s squad seeking for a podium finish in the Vietnam SEA Games on May 12-23.
The last time the PH spikers captured at least a bronze medal in the Games was back in the 2005 edition when Manila played host.
PNVF secretary general Don Caringal helped arrange the Brazilian training camp while PNVF executive board member and national team chairperson Tony Boy Liao serves as head of delegation in the trip backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Rebisco, PLDT and the City of Taguig.
Prior to the bronze finish in 2005, Team Philippines also claimed the same medal color in 2003 Hanoi long after the national lady spikers seized the gold in the 1993 Singapore edition.
