Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team head coach Odjie Mamon admitted the most important thing his squad still needs to work on in the coming weeks – chemistry.
The pool, composed of 24 players, will split into two teams for the 2021 AVC Women’s Club Championship next month, Rebisco and Choco Mucho.
The teams have started training together in a bubble set up two weeks ago in Batangas, with the upcoming tournament slated to commence on October 1.
“When it comes to the physical conditioning of the players I’m confident about that, ‘yung sa individual skills. They have that. Kaya sila nasa national team,” said Mamon on the Philippines Sportswriters Association Forum, Tuesday.
“Pero ang volleyball, team effort, so ‘yung team skills that’s what we lack at the moment,” continued Mamon in the session powered by Smart and Upstream Media as its official webcast partner.
Now, the team’s coaches are looking to take the practice up a notch in the last two weeks before they head to Thailand.
And with that, Mamon hopes the players reach the condition coaches want them to be in come the tournament.
“That’s why we have two (more) weeks to prepare for this. Hopefully, we achieve the desired status namin para sa kanila to play competitive,” added the veteran head coach in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Composing Rebisco are Aby Marano, Eya Laure, Jema Galanza, Faith Nisperos, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Mhicaela Belen, Imee Hernandez, Ivy Lacsina, Rhea Dimaculangan, Kamille Cal, Jennifer Nierva, and Bernadette Pepito.
On the other hand, Choco Mucho will have Iris Tolenada, Kalei Mau, MJ Phillips, Tin Tiamzon, Kat Tolentino, Mylene Paat, Kianna Dy, Ria Meneses, Majoy Baron, Dell Palomata, Deanna Wong, and Dawn Macandili.
Rebisco PH will be slotted with Thailand’s Supreme Chonburi, Kazakhstan’s Altay, and Iran’s Saipa Tehran to form Pool B. Meanwhile, Pool A will consist of Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima, Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu, and Choco Mucho.
“I’m hopeful for a good showing from the players. Most of them played last PVL, so I think they can carry the rest of the players who were inactive,” said Mamon.