Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos believes that the arrival of Japanese coaches in the Premier Volleyball League will serve as a big challenge for local tacticians here in the Philippines.
Delos Santos recently attended a training camp in Japan together with the UST Golden Tigresses. He explained that the entry of Japanese coaches in the PVL scene will not only take the level of competition in the league higher – it will also help Filipino tacticians to improve their craft.
“Good thing lang, ayun nga… Napapasok na tayo ng mga Japanese coaches na alam kasi natin kung ano yung kaya nilang gawin. But it doesn’t mean na magpapabaya kami,” said delos Santos.
“Syempre para sa amin, ang laking opportunity rin ‘to na ito yung kalaban namin na coach. So kailangan ma-prove din namin sa sarili namin na meron kaming kayang gawin na pwedeng manalo or pwedeng mas maging okay,” he continued.
“Kung makaka-experience kami ng ‘di maganda, siguro absorb lang tapos laban lang nang laban at aral nang aral.”
After Taka Minowa joined Nxled last year, two other Japanese coaches hopped onto the PVL train.
Koji Tsuzubara has taken the helm at Petro Gazz, while Master Shimizu serves as consultant to Jerry Yee at Farm Fresh.
The multi-titled coach said that the troika’s arrival can help the Philippines adapt to the Japanese style of play.
One thing is for sure, though – it’s that Filipino coaches will undoubtedly step up their schemes as they eagerly anticipate facing off against these renowned Japanese coaches.
“Most likely mangyayari siya pero syempre, iba iba naman yung style ng mga coaches. Iba ibang core ng team. I don’t know depende na lang kung paano nila iha-handle yun but ang good thing, for me ah, mas macha-challenge kami as local coach na meron ng dumadating na foreign coaches,” said delos Santos.
“Ako mas sisipagan ko, mas tatrabahuhin ko talaga na mapaganda yung takbo ng team namin.”