Different outcome in next SEA Games

MANILA, Philippines - Larong Volleyball Ng Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) vice president Peter Cayco said yesterday he expects a different outcome for the national men’s and women’s teams in this year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur from the 2015 edition where the country failed to land a podium finish in both divisions because of lack of preparation.

Former Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez was on the women’s team that failed to bag a medal at the last SEA Games in Singapore. The squad was coached by Roger Gorayeb and aside from Valdez, was made up of Rachel Ann Daquis, Gretchel Soltones, Aby Marano, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jaja Santiago, Denden Lazaro, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz and Jia Morado. The Philippines beat Malaysia, 25-15, 25-18, 25-16 but lost to Indonesia, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14 and Vietnam, 25-16, 25-21, 25-23 to bow out of contention in the preliminaries. The team finished fifth of seven.

The men’s team, coached by Oliver Almandro, was also eliminated in the group stage. The Philippines defeated Malaysia, 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-19, but was thwarted by Myanmar, 25-16, 25-14, 33-31 and Thailand, 25-21, 25-16, 25-13 to wind up sixth of eight.

“We’re pushing for a podium finish with our men and women,” said Cayco.  “Of course, we’re going for gold. In 2015, we didn’t have time to prepare and we formed our teams less than a month before the competitions. It’s different now. We’ve got the lead time to prepare.”

Cayco said he spoke with Valdez last Saturday and she confirmed her participation in the Metro Manila tryouts on Jan. 28, 29 and 31 at the Arellano University gym on Taft Avenue in Pasay City. “She’ll be playing in the Thai league but she promised to come back for the tryouts,” said Cayco. Valdez left for Thailand last Sunday to join her new team 3BB Nakornnont. The Thai club had previously recruited imports from Greece, Senegal, Turkey and the US. Valdez will be 3BB’s lone import this season. 

Cayco said after the Manila tryouts, there will be two more open camps in Davao and Cebu within the second week of next month. “Schedules for Davao and Cebu are still being arranged,” he said. “We’re now coordinating with our point persons in both areas. In the Manila tryouts, the schedule for men will be from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. then the women from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day. We expect to select the core of both teams by the end of February.”

Cayco said men’s coach Sammy Acaylar and women’s coach Francis Vicente will announce the composition of their staff by next week. “They may assist or consult each other (in forming their teams) but they’ll have their own complement of assistant coaches,” he said. “They’ve already recommended some names as assistant coaches but I told them to make sure their nominees are committed and won’t beg off.”

LVPI president and POC first vice president Joey Romasanta reiterated that there will be no invitations for players to try out for both teams but said he expects “the best of the best” to show up for the three-leg trails.

“It’s difficult to send out invitations because some players may not be committed to the national team,” said Romasanta. “Instead, we’re holding open tryouts in Metro Manila, Davao and Cebu. We’ll welcome players from the PSL, V-League and any other leagues. We want to form the best men’s and women’s teams for our country and we believe we have the talent to be competitive for a podium finish in the SEA Games.”

Romasanta said before the coaches pick the final 12 for both teams, it’s likely a pool of 18 to 24 players will be named. He said there are plans to send the national teams abroad for training and mentioned Thailand, South Korea and Japan as possible hosts.

“We were asked to hold the Asian Senior Women’s Championships by the Asian Volleyball Confederation and we’re honored to host the tournament,” said Romasanta. “This will be the final tune-up for our women’s team before competing in the SEA Games.” The Women’s Championships will be staged here on Aug. 9-17 with 15 participating teams – India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, China, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. The SEA Games will be on Aug. 19-31.

Romasanta said he will study the possibility of playing in the Asian U23 Championships as a tune-up. The tournament for men will be in Australia while the women will play in Thailand. No dates have been set for either competition. “We’re seriously considering to play in the tournaments but it will depend on the schedule, expenses and the composition of our national teams,” he said. “These are U23 Championships so our national players who are over 23 are not qualified.”

Vicente is credited for grooming Valdez, Kim Fajardo and the Santiago sisters with the UST junior varsity. He is now the UE seniors head coach and in the UAAP last season, piloted the Lady Warriors to a 25-17, 25-22, 29-27 win over Adamson to end a 58-game losing streak dating back to 2012.  Acaylar has led Perpetual Help to 10 men’s and three women’s NCAA championships.