Just a few days after being announced as the new women’s national team head coach, Shaq Delos Santos is already under the gun.
Delos Santos confirmed that he is looking to finish an initial lineup of 18-20 players for the Asian Games by later tonight or tomorrow.
Thursday afternoon, Delos Santos held the second meeting the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team pool members, which only saw 13 players attend.
Although both of his meetings this week didn’t see complete attendance from everyone on the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Incorporated’s pool of players, Delos Santos says that won’t factor to his decision on who to include in the lineup.
“‘Di kami makakapagbigay ng final time kung ngayon or bukas (maglalabas ng lineup), pero para samin kailangan naming pag-usapan mabuti kasi ‘di na kami masyado nagpa-tryout masyado kasi alam na namin quality ng laro nila,” said Delos Santos.
“After nito magmi-meeting kaming coaches. Ang usapan kung papayagan twenty or eighteen kung sa’n kami aabutin.”
The final Asian Game lineup will be comprised of only 14 players, Delos Santos expects optimal professionalism from his players.
“Ang magiging lineup talaga is fourteen lang. Sabi ko sa mga players kanina professional na silang lahat nire-respect namin sila and, hopefully, i-respect nila kami sa gagawing decision,” he furthered.
“Napakahirap na decision ang magbawas ng players na alam mong pwede naman. Kung pwede lang lahat, pero ganun talaga. ‘Yun ang rules, ‘yun ang kailangang gawin ngayon. Pero ayun parang sa fourteen, twelve players to play, dalawa yung reserve.”
After the lineup is decided, Delos Santos wants to begin training by Wednesday next week. He expects the players to be fully committed by then. He adds that he will be very considerate of the players’ training with their mother teams.
“Dapat committed sila. Pero I think this time ‘di namin magagawa everyday training kasi may conflict kagaya ng iba, malapit na ang PSL and on-going pa ang PVL.”
