Volleybelles face tough Thais today

JAKARTA – The Philippine volleybelles, gearing up for the Southeast Asian Games at home next year, will see firsthand their progress from their Japanese training as they tangle with SEA Games champ Thailand in their opening match in the 18th Asian Games today at the GBK Sports Center here.

Game time is at 12:30 p.m. (1 p.m. in Manila) with Alyssa Valdez and her teammates to face the traditional SEA Games power which has been a tough campaigner even in the World Championship and in the FIVB Grand Prix.

Going to the battle with Valdez are Aby Marano, Jaja Santiago, Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo, Denden Lazaro, Kim Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jia Morado, Majoy Baron, Cha Cruz, Maika Ortiz and Mylene Paat.

In their 11 stints in the Asian Games, the Thai belles never finished below eighth. They were the bronze-medal winners behind champion South Korea and runner-up China in Incheon, Korea in 2014.

Thus, the Phl team is definitely facing an uphill climb, and the Filipinas hope to draw strength from the experience and knowledge gained from their 10-day training in Okagawa, Japan.

Gifted with height and skills, Team Phl focused on developing quickness in the training camp.

“The Japanese coaches saw the potential of our team because of its height and skills. But we have to work on our speed; on how to execute all the movements as quick as the international level,” said Phl coach Shaq delos Santos.

“To be honest, we’re not yet there. We need to do it continuously. We need tournaments to gauge ourselves,” Delos Santos added.

The Filipino coaches, however, insist they learned a lot in Japan.

“In the latter part of our Japan trip, iba na ang galaw ng players natin. Sa atin kasi okay na sila, pero paglabas, we can see iba ang international level,” said Delos Santos.

The Thai game could well be the acid test.

“Thailand is one of the best even in the world. We have to work hard to compete with them. Dati we say ‘naku Thailand kalaban namin.’ We have to put that out of our mind and just play our game,” said Delos Santos.