WITH Foton begging off, the Philippine Superliga will be sending its selection team to represent the country in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship in Oskemen, Kazakhstan from May 23 to 30.
PSL president Ramon Suzara presented the Rebisco-PSL Manila to the media, saying that the squad is capable of pulling off a surprise in the prestigious tourney where eight of Asia’s best club teams will be competing.
Bannered by Rachel Anne Daquis of Cignal, the squad’s main objective is to gain experience and exposure needed for the AVC Asian Senior Women’s Championship and the 29th Southeast Asian Games this August.
Also making the squad were FIVB Women’s Club World Championship veterans Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo, Jaja Santiago, Frances Molina and Jovelyn Gonzaga as well as grizzled international campaigner Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Maika Ortiz, Denise Lazaro and Rhea Dimaculangan.
Towering Gen Casugod and Lourdes Clemente were also tapped, making Rebisco-PSL Manila one of the tallest squads ever assembled.
“This team is expected to play at a high level,” said Suzara, who is the chairman of the powerful marketing and development committee in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).
“This is the first time for us to compete in the AVC Asian club with an all-Filipino lineup because we want to give these players, who are all national pool members, a chance to gain experience against eight of the best club teams in Asia.”
Also in the press launch held during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum Tuesday at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City were Rebisco marketing executive Kathy Simundo, Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. president Joey Romasanta and LVPI acting president Peter Cayco as well as head coach Francis Vicente.
Before flying to Kazakhstan, members of Rebisco-PSL Manila side will be displaying their talents against other members of the 25-man national pool in the Clash of Heroes on May 15 at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
Vicente said he likes the composition of the team as it is composed of tall players capable of being trained for new positions.
In fact, 6’5” Jaja Santiago was designated to play open spiker together with 6’1” Casugod.
“Asian volleyball is all about speed,” said Vicente, admitting that he is fascinated with the way Japan plays. “But if we will have that speed together with ceiling, I think we will go far.”
“But this is a long process. This is just the start of a very long journey,” he added in the same session presented by San Miguel Corp., Golden Phoenix Hotel, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Rebisco-PSL Manila landed on a very tough group with Hisamitsu Springs of reigning champion Japan, Tianjin Bohai Bank of China and Vietinbak of Vietnam.
Bunched in Group B were Southeast Asian powerhouse Supreme Chonburi of Thailand together with Taiwan Power of Chinese Taipei, Sarmayeh Bank of Iran and Altay Volleyball Club of the host country.
Rebisco-PSL Manila will open its campaign against the Japanese on May 25 before facing the Vietnamese on May 26 and the Chinese on May 27.