The Women’s National Volleball Team’s buildup towards the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship and Southeast Asian Games has been controversial, to say the least.
Earlier tonight, F2 Logistics middle blocker and National Team stalwart Aby Maraño went on a prolonged rant on Twitter, addressing the rumors of dissent within the team.
Ang volleyball ay di individual sport. Hindi iisang tao lang player ng Pilipinas kaya wag kayo magsamba-sambahan, lahat kami magkakaibigan.
— 𝚃𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚋𝚢 🌻 (@Abymarano) July 9, 2017
May announcement sa viber group namin ok? Intindihin natin na baka di ito nabasa. Ganun pa man respeto naman ho walang kinalaman players jan
— 𝚃𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚋𝚢 🌻 (@Abymarano) July 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/Abymarano/status/884034174218149889
Observers have noticed how, in the past few National Team trainings, attendance has been lackluster. On some occasions, it was only Alyssa Valdez that attended the practice sessions that ended up being cancelled.
In some tweets, Maraño vehemently defended the National Team, deflecting any accusations that the rest of the National Team members were excluding Valdez.
Pwede ba tigilan niyo kami sa paninisi na di alam ni Ly na walang ensayo today? May anunsiyo po kahapon pa. Wala kayong alam manahimik kayo.
— 𝚃𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚋𝚢 🌻 (@Abymarano) July 9, 2017
Pati PSL idadamay niyo, bakit PSL lang ba liga ng taon? May PVL diba? Imberna na ako. Bukod sa wala kayonh alam wala pa kayong respeto.
— 𝚃𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚋𝚢 🌻 (@Abymarano) July 9, 2017
Gagaling niyo magsalita ha! Kala niyo madali buhay namin dito? Nagkakanda pasa-pasa kami sumasakit katawan makaensayo lang. kayo jan ano?!
— 𝚃𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚋𝚢 🌻 (@Abymarano) July 9, 2017
On her part, Valdez urged onlookers to have patience and understand the players’ situations with their respective club teams.
“Well, naguusap-usap naman din. i think communication is really the key, and Sir Vince [Francis Vicente] just told us to really communicate. What’s happening inside, it’s just gonna be inside the team,” the 24-year-old shared. “Hindi rin natin maalis na may mga commitments din yung iba sa mga club teams talaga nila, ongoing din yung tournaments nila and crucial games din talaga. So we really have to respect their time also, and siyempre yung katawan nila.
“It’s really important na sound mind and sound body tayo pagdating sa training natin sa Japan and sa dadating na SEA Games and Asian seniors. Yun lang naman, bina-balance lang naman lahat.”
Valdez and the rest of the National Team are hopeful that their two-week Japan training camp will help the team truly come together.
“I think this Japan training, hopefully, will help us para siyempre lahat naglalaro sa club team, so hopefully this Japan training will help us with our chemistry and the jelling of the team,” said Valdez, who is competing in her second SEA Games.
The four-time V-League MVP will be missing Creamline’s last three elimination round matches and possibly the playoffs due to the training camp, which begins on July 17 and goes until August 2.
Valdez is willing to risk possibly her club’s season to serve the country.
“Well, that’s the plan naman, to train with the team for the whole duration of the national team training,” expressed Valdez. “And then when we get back here, we have ilang days lang tapos may tournament na nga kami. That’s the original plan and I think we’re gonna stick with it naman.
“Hindi ko alam kung saan nababasa itong mga nangyayaring ito, pero parang ‘di ko rin alam kung saan lumalabas. Pero kung mabibigyan ng chance, siyempre may commitment din naman tayo sa Creamline, and I think everyone knows naman also na the mother company nila ang nag-sponsor ng trip. So, siyempre, let’s be open to all the possibilities, but the plan is to really train with them naman. That’s all that I can say.
“Definitely, it’s hard for me, kasi commitments are commitments, so you have to balance everything. But I’m really thankful for Creamline na they’re very supportive sa national team, sa teammates ko and sa mga coaches na hopefully naiintindihan din nila na bansa muna over everything else,” Valdez expressed.
“But definitely, if given a chance, kung mapapaghati lang natin ang katawan natin at magagawa ng paraan, bakit hindi puwedeng malaruan natin parehas.”
