SEAG-bound Philippines faces HK
Photo shows 14 coaches from various foreign teams during the general technical meeting and press conference for 19th Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship at Crimson Hotel in Alabang. Phl mainstay Jaja Santiago, right, in action in file photo. Joey Mendoza
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines hopes to showcase its form coming off a 17-day training in Japan as it clashes with Hong Kong at the start of the 19th AVC Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship at the Alonte Sports Gym in Biñan, Laguna today.
The Filipinas are eyeing no less than a quarterfinal finish in the tournament serving as their final tuneup before vying in the Southeast Asian Games slated Aug. 19-31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Two of the country’s toughest rivals in the SEAG are also in the fold with fancied Thailand and Vietnam both toughening up for the biennial meet.
Led by team captain Mika Reyes, former Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez, and 6-5 middle hitter Jaja Santiago, the hosts, the Kazakhs and the HK side make up Pool A, while heavy favorites Japan, China and Australia are in Pool B.
Pool C has Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, while Pool D is made up of Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Iran and Maldives.
“We will give it our best to help the team,” said Valdez.
Gametime is set at 6:30 p.m.
If it advances to the quarters, the Phl, which ended up 12th in Tianjin, China two years ago, will earn a spot in next year’s AVC Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup.
The Phl rallied from two sets down to steal the match from Hong Kong in their classification game in this same tournament two years ago.
The Nationals are confident their Japan training will help them not only against Hong Kong but against the rest of the field.
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s Sports + Action channel will telecast the games on free TV and in high-definition on S+A HD starting with the Korea vs New Zealand clash at 12:30 p.m. today.
Also on tap is the opening ceremony before the Phl-HK duel.
Games heat up on Thursday with China and Japan mixing it up at 12:30 p.m. while the Kazakhstan-HK and Thailand-Iran duels will be shown at 6:30 p.m.
Team Philippines will next see action Friday against Kazakhstan.
Some of the games will be held at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Muntinlupa.
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