ADJUSTING to each other’s style of play will be a challenge that members of the Philippine national women’s volleyball team is taking on.
Team skipper Mika Reyes said this on the eve of their departure for Japan.
“Panibagong adjustment ito para sa amin. Yes, magagaling (teammates), individually. Ang pinakamahirap kung paano kami mag-jell as a team,” said Reyes.
The nationals leave for Japan today and will start training with spikers from elite clubs and universities in Japan this week.
They will be Kobe and Osaka from July 18 to Aug. 2.
Their presence there is part of their preparations for the 19th AVC Asian Senior Women’s Championship set from Aug. 9 to 17 in Binan City and Muntinlupa City and the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur from Aug. 19 to 31.
Early Monday, they had a breakfast sendoff with Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano at the Orchid Gardens Suite in Vito Cruz, Manila.
In their first week in Osaka, the lady spikers will train with the first division squad Okayama Seagulls in the morning before they have tuneup games in the afternoon.
The following day in Kobe, they will have trainings and tuneup matches with players from Ryokoku University, the Osaka Superiors, Shinwa University and Osaka University.
The nationals will be skippered by Mika Reyes and Abigail Marano and will be composed of Denise Lazaro, Kim Fajardo, Rhea Dimaculangan and Maika Ortiz.
Also part of the team are Genevieve Casugod, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Jaja Santiago, Alyssa Valdez, Frances Molina, Dawn Macandili and newcomer Kim Dy.
Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. acting president Peter Cayco, volleyball official Joey Romasanta and coach Francis Vicente joined Cayetano in the sendoff.