CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University (SWU) Lady Cobras have started preparing for another exciting volleyball action as they take part as a provincial team in the Shakey’s V-League which is slated on April 3 at The Arena in San Juan City.
Unlike last year wherein they were in the tournament as one of the Manila squads, the back-to-back Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) champions will now be representing Cebu as a provincial team.
Interestingly, SWU could now tap three reinforcement and they already had Erika Camille Verano of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF); Kenneth Garces, a University of San Jose-Recoletos alumna; and a rookie from Tanjay, Janine Navarro.
SWU athletic director Ryan Aznar said that they will no longer import an international player. To recall, in their inclusion last year in the prestigious volleyball event in the country, SWU got the expertise of Piyatida Lasungnern, a member of Thailand’s junior volleyball team.
“We decided to tap the local players, para maka- practice pod sa team og dugay.
In fact Kenneth (Garces) and Erika (Verano) have been practicing regularly na sa team. Janine (Navarro) will be here this weekend,” said Aznar.
Aside from the three reinforcements, SWU will also bank on Danika Yolanda Gendrauli, Lorie May Layno, Danalie Baquiro, Raphril Aguilar, Princess Anne Pido, Anna Bennova Sabanal, Fritzie Aligway, Elizabeth Emnace and Mary Luilyn Pacinio.
“We prepared as early as now, so that we could develop teamwork among the players and para maanad na sila as a team. That’s why we had our preparations earlier, so that I could assess on the weak points and strengths of the team and we could still have ample time to correct or improve these weaknesses,” said coach Jordan Paca. (FREEMAN)