Philippine Women’s National Volleyball team head coach Shaq Delos Santos expressed his satisfaction with how his wards showed the results of their intensive training camp in Japan during the 2019 PSL Super Cup opener, Tuesday.
But the grizzled bench tactician said that it will take quite some time before the tricolor squad can completely reap the fruits of its labor in the Land of the Rising Sun.
“Meron naman kaming nakitang result dun sa naging training camp namin. But of course, sabi ko nga kanina, process talaga. Kung makikita lang natin lahat talaga kung paano gumalaw ‘yung volleyball sa Japan — sobrang sarap panoorin, sobrang sarap i-absorb,” Delos Santos opined moments after his side wrapped up Team Shine in straight-sets.
“But of course, kailangan siya ng mahabang proseso. Pero kami, pinu-push namin ‘yung sarili namin na ma-adopt siya dahan-dahan hanggang sa maibigay namin lahat ng kailangan ng players, ng team. So hindi pa ‘yan… Kumbaga, gusto pa naming ma-improve pa ‘yan. Talagang aayusin pa namin, ipo-polish pa namin lahat.”
True enough, the Nationals still have plenty of room to cover as a unit. They’re also currently in the thick of another tournament sans key players Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado.
Both Valdez and Morado are preparing to lead Creamline back to the PVL Open Conference throne, as Game One of the Finals fires off on Wednesday. Given this, the two are unlikely to suit up for the Nationals in the three-day tourney.
And so Delos Santos was delighted to see his players step up and fill in the void left by the dynamic duo.
“Definitely ‘yun talaga. Kasi ‘yun din naman ‘yung isa sa mga pinag-uusapan namin, na kailangan naming ma-cover up din yung mga pagkukulang,” bared Delos Santos, who also welcomed the services of national team reserves Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Roselyn Doria.
All but defensive specialists Dawn Macandili and Kath Arado tallied a point in the curtain-raiser of the Philippine contingents.
Mylene Paat spearheaded the offensive thrust with eight points. Ces Molina and Majoy Baron supplied seven markers each, while Eya Laure and Jovielyn Gonzaga churned out six-point outings. Maddie Madayag and skipper Aby Maraño contributed five apiece.
Battle-tested Rhea Dimculangan shouldered the playmaking duties in her lonesome. Still, she was a picture of composure as she distributed 13 excellent sets for the Nationals, who outgunned Team Shine in the attacking department, 42-27.
“Siyempre, kaya rin namin binubuo itong team, para magtulungan ang bawat isa, not only for the skills sa volleyball but of course ‘yung friendship na ma-create namin as family talaga. Why not?”
