Jia Morado has made a living out of delivering tosses to a bevy of hard-hitting attackers.
Still, the 5-foot-6 playmaker couldn’t help but be in awe of the sheer strength of one particular member of the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team.
“Si Kalei [Mau], I’ve seen her play. I’ve trained with her a few times and na-set-up-an ko na siya,” confided Morado.
“And sobrang wow! Sobrang lakas niya talaga.”
Without a doubt, the 2019 PSL All-Filipino Conference Most Valuable Player is one of the strongest hitters in the local volleyball landscape.
The 6-foot-2 wing spiker also has the ability to vary her airborne attacks to go along with an elite defensive skill set.
With a hitter as potent as Mau, the savvy setter cannot wait to orchestrate the offense for the national team. She hopes to use her slick playmaking abilities to open a rift in the defense for the prolific scorer to exploit.
“Doon ko nakukuha yung satisfaction ko[ — it] is seeing na I can set up players na ganoon kalakas, tapos mabigyan ko pa ng single block. Mas masaya ‘di ba?” Morado bared.
But beyond the offensive prowess of the Fil-Hawaiian sensation, the former Ateneo Lady Eagle is thrilled to share the court with a player who is more than willing to take the reins of leadership.
“I’ve heard how vocal and how much of a leader she is inside the court,” said Morado.
“So, I’m excited to get a chance to play with her.”
While there is no certainty that the Morado-Mau combination will wreak havoc on the Taraflex, the Philippines will have the tandem at its disposal in the upcoming Southeast Asian Grand Prix, which starts on September 20.
