Pinays debut vs Japanese in AWCC

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine representative Rebisco-PSL Manila takes on Japan today as it kicks off its campaign in the Asian Women’s Club Championships at Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan.

National team coach Francis Vicente said Japan, which normally has an import it hardly uses, would be a suitable opponent for the Filipinas who are here to tune up for the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in August.

“One of the models we are looking at is that of Japan because of its speed and discipline,” said Vicente of the squad backed up by Rebisco, Asics, Grand Sports and Turkish Airlines. “We will be out there fighting with all we’ve got.”

The team worked on foot and leg drills at the lobby of the Shiny River Hotel because it was drizzling all Wednesday morning, bringing temperatures down to 14-degrees from Tuesday’s high 30.

The Filipinas also had practice Tuesday night, hours after a tiring flight from Manila, although it hardly showed in the faces of the members of the team whose core will form the SEA Games squad.

Morale is high for the squad which will be led by 6-foot-5 Jaja Santiago who, despite being just 21 years old, is easily the most decorated player here with stints in last year’s FIVB World Clubs in Manila.

“We are ready,” said Santiago of Philippine Superliga’s Foton. “We know this is a tough competition but we are excited to go out there and play against the best teams.”

Match will be at 10:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. Manila time). 

Thailand and Iran collide next at 1:30 p.m. local time, to be followed by Vietnam-China tussle at 3:30 p.m. Host Kazakhstan sees action against Chinese Taipei at 7 p.m. following the opening ceremony.

The Philippines will face Vietnam on Friday before rounding up its Group B games facing China on Saturday.

The team is led by skipper Rachel Anne Daquis, Mika Reyes, Aby Marano, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Denden Lazaro and Kim Fajardo. Also making up the team are  Bia General, Lourdes Clemente, Maika Ortiz, Gen Casugod, Ces Molina, Aiza Pontillas and Rhea Dimaculangan.