By Abby Toralba
THE national women’s volleyball team’s preparations for the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games next month got a big shot in the arm yesterday as the team downed Ashiya University of Japan 25-17, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18 in a tune-up game.
The win made up for the team’s 21-25, 25-19, 25-13, 25-22 defeat to the Himeji Victorina team of the Japan V League 10 days ago.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation national team commission chairman Tony Boy Liao told Malaya-Business Insight the national team will play three more tune-up matches starting today.
The squad banned by spiker Alyssa Valdez wraps up its two-week Japan training camp this week and is expected to return to the country this Saturday.
Valdez also bannered the national team that finished fourth overall in the Vietnam SEA Games last year.
Completing the Cambodia-bound squad are Jia Morado, Diana Mae Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Kyla Atienza, Mylene Paat, Kat Tolentino, Gel Cayuna, Glaudine Troncoso, Dell Palomata, Bang Pineda and Cherry Nunag.
The national team will battle reigning silver medalist Vietnam, host Cambodia and Singapore in Pool B of the preliminary round of the competition.
