HULI man at magaling, training pa rin.

Bilang paghahanda para sa nalalapit na kampanya ng bansa sa 30th Southeast Asian Games, nakatakdang umalis ngayong Sabado ang national women’s volleyball team para sumailalim sa training camp sa Japan, halos isang buwan bago ang biennial meet.

Pinonduhan ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ang gastusin ng koponan para sa 12 araw na pagsasanay at pagsabak sa exhibition game laban sa ilang collegiate at commercial team tulad ng Kashiwa Angel Cross, Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Gunma Bank Green Wings, Hitachi at Nittai University at Aoyama University.

“We know that Japan is the gold standard in Asian volleyball. They may not be tall, but they are quick, tactical and very disciplined. That’s why we’re throwing our all-out support to this training camp. We feel that with just the right training program and exposure winning a medal in the SEA Games will be very possible,” pahayag ni Ramirez.

Matagal na panahon na hindi nagwawagi ng gintong medalya ang women’s volleyball team sa biennial meet, bagama’t nagwagi ito ng bronze medal nitong 2005 SEA Games sa Bacolod.

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Kaya naman sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi na pakakawalan ng koponan ang kanilang tsansa na makasungkit ng gintong medalya na matagal na nilang inaasam para.

Sasandal ang women’s volleyball team kina Filipino- American spiker Kalei Mau at middle blocker na si Majoy Baron kasama ang mga pinagmamalaking national team players na sina Mika Reyes, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aby Maraño, Frances Molina, Alyssa Valdez, Rhea Dimaculangan, Dawn Macandili, Mylene Paat, Maddie Madayag, Eya Laure, Kat Arado at Jia Morado.

Imamaneobra ni coach Shaq Delos Santos ang koponan katuwang sina Kungfu Reyes at Brian Esquibel bilang mga assistan coaches.