News broke out on Saturday afternoon that the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team has joined the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference as a replacement.
This as Japan’s Kobe Shinwa Women’s University won’t make it due to the league’s health and safety protocols as one of its players tested positive for COVID-19 before the squad’s scheduled flight to the Philippines.
And for Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos, having the youthful national team will be a win-win situation for everybody in the league.
“Siyempre happy kami.
“Una makakalaban namin ‘yung national team at the same time good exposure din for them para ‘yung preparation nila this coming AVC,” said former national team head coach Delos Santos after his HD Spikers took a hard-earned 26-24, 26-28, 25-18, 18-25, 16-14 win over Army at the Ynares Arena in Antipolo.
The Philippine team will be composed of reigning UAAP champion National University players Mhicaela Belen, Ivy Lacsina, Cess Robles, Sheena Toring, Jen Nierva, Alyssa Solomon, Camilla Lamina, Kamille Cal, Joyme Cagande, Nicole Mata, Shaira Jardio, and Evangeline Alinsug.
Completing the squad are California Precision Sports’ Jelai Gajero and Akari’s Trisha Genesis.
Despite being a young team, Delos Santos and Cignal captain Ces Molina know that the national team will surely grind it out with the pro players in PVL.
“Promising ‘yung maglalaro, ire-respect namin sila hindi kami pwedeng maging complacent,” said Delos Santos, who once held the national team.
“Siyempre privilege pa rin na makalaro kami kasi kapag sinabi namang national team, best of the best talaga, talagang pinipili yan selected talaga,” said Molina, who was just informed of the recent developments after their match against the Lady Troopers.
Molina also said that they should not take the Philippine team, which mainly consists of students except for Genesis lightly, just because they are young.
Cignal will take on the Philippine team on next Wednesday at 5:30 pm at the Filoil Ecooil Centre in San Juan.
The national team will use this sudden PVL side trip in preparation for the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women slated from August 21 to 29 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
“Yun nga sa preparation nila sure na paghahandaan din kami dahil mas bata yang mga yan, mas aggressive yan kaya hindi kami pwede magpa easy easy lang,” said Molina, who is also a former member of the national team.
