By Abby Toralba
A BLEND of tried and tested veterans and promising young blood, the national team, known as Alas Pilipinas, vowed that it won’t be a pushover in the Asian Volleyball Conference Challenge Cup opening tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
“Although madali ang pagkakabuo namin, hindi naman kami basta magpapatalo,” national team skipper Jia Morado said during the official presentation of the team in a press conference at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati yesterday.
The same sentiments were shared by fellow veterans Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunga of Choco Mucho, Cignal’s Vanie Gandler and Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Eya Laure and Jen Nierva of Cherry Tigo, Akaris Faith Nisperos and Fifi Sharma and PLDT’s Dell Palomata.
Joining their “ates” in the roster are De La Salle aces Angel Canino and Thea Gagate, a three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker; and Julia Coronel, and young gun Arah Panique of the newly-crowned UAAP champs NU Lady Bulldogs.
Alas Pilipinas opens its campaign against Australia in the opening day of the AVC Challeng Cup at the historic arena at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
Aside from the Philippines and Australia, Chinese-Taipei, India and Iran are in Group A while defending champion Vietnam, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Singapore and Hong Kong make up Group B.
“We would like to thank both the PVL and UAAP that we can form this competitive team at a very short time,” noted Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara during the press conference.
Joining him at the occasion were Philippine Olympic Committee president and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, PVL president and PNVF board member Ricky Palou, Philippine Sports Commission executive director Paolo Tatad, representing PSC chairman Richard Bachmann, PNVF secretary general Don Caringal and Rebisco corporate planning chief Rolando Delfino.
“This is a really good lineup. Some guys [just] finished their competitions less than a week [ago]. But these guys are committed. I’m sure that we are really competitive no matter [what],” said Brazilian tactician Jorge Souza de Brito.
