Team Philippines will begin its medal campaign in the netball and floorball competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at separate venues on Monday.
Playing at home, the Philippines faces Indonesia in the men’s and women’s floorball at the UP College of Human Kinetics in Quezon City at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively while the Filipinos take on the Singaporeans in netball at 3 p.m. set at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Sports Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Malaysia and Thailand will tangle in the other pair of floorball matches, an indoor team sport featured as a demo event in the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar and made its debut as an official sport two years later in Singapore.
Floorball is a type of floor hockey with five players and a goalkeeper in each team. To win the game, the team must score more goals than the opposing squad within the limits of the rules.
Completing the five-country cast in floorball is Singapore, the reigning champion in the men’s and women’s division.
Led by headcoach Noel Johansson, Team PH is expected to come up with a strong performance with forwards Sarah Samonte and Candy Noreen Pellejera helping the women’s team while the men’s side will have Jan Vitaliano, Aristeo Perol II and defender Christopher Holland.
In netball, the Philippines will be represented by its women’s team composed of Kristine Abriam, Ana Thea Cenarosa, Katrina Rose Domino, Diana Doqueza, Loraine Angela Lim, Karen Lomogda, Janelle Mendoza, Cathlyn Jane Seno, Zharmaine Velez, Eliezza Dianne Ventura, Alexadrea Gastador and Jhianne Layug, and head coach Angelina Fedillaga.
Almost similar to basketball, each team is allowed seven players on the floor and must score more goals than the opposing team within the four 15-minute quarters.
Unlike basketball though, netball’s rings don’t have a backboard and each player is only allowed to hold onto the ball for just three seconds before passing or attempting a shot.
It will be five-country affair with Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand seeking the title against the Philippines and Singapore.