SINGAPORE — Philippine women’s volleyball coach Roger Gorayeb said replacing the injured Gretchel Soltones with Aiza Maizo-Pontillas is easier said than done.
Soltones is still recuperating from an injured right shoulder days before the competition and Maizo, who was brought with the team as a reserve player and assistant coach, can still be activated for the tournament.
“Masakit pa rin ang balikat niya. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, ‘Ang malas mo naman.’ Pero nandyan na,” Gorayeb said of Soltones.
The 12-player line-up has been set but teams can still make replacements, with valid reasons like injuries, during the managers’ meeting before the competition.
But Gorayeb the switch won’t be easy since the two Maizo-Pontillas is a utility player and Soltones Soltones is an outside spiker.
“Hindi kasi puwede ipalit si Aiza kasi utility siya. Hindi ganun ka-simple. Hindi sila same banana,” said Gorayeb.
Gorayeb said he could end up relying more on Rachel Ann Daquis if ever Soltones is not fit to play by the Philippines’ first match on June 10 against Indonesia.
“Nandyan naman si Rachel. Titignan namin kung papaano kami mag-aadjust,” said Gorayeb.
