TOO much volleyball could be taking its toll on the Philippine women’s team bound for the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.
Team practice was cancelled on Monday by head coach Roger Gorayeb as only eight players are sure of showing up for the 3 p.m. training at the Blue Eagle gym inside the Ateneo campus.
Gorayeb said national players from the Philippine Army team (Rachel Anne Daquis, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, and Jovelyn Gonzaga) along with Aby Marano and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas have sent word in advance that they won’t be able to attend the afternoon drills.
“Wala, cancel na ang practice ngayon," Gorayeb confirmed to Spin.ph. "Wala ang Army (players), wala si Maraño, wala si Maizo so cancel na lang."
Army is currently in the middle of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference Finals against PLDT, which incidentally, is being handled by Gorayeb.
The national mentor said the daily grind of playing may be starting to take its toll on the players, who also had running drills with the national team in the morning.
“Ewan ko siguro 'yung Army kailangan magpahinga kasi natalo kahapon,” said Gorayeb of the Lady Troopers, who failed to win the V-League championship outright on Sunday after losing Game Two of the series against the Ultra Fast Hitters.
“Or 'yung ibang players kailangan rin ng pahinga, so rest muna ngayon, bukas na lang," he added.
The cancelled practice came just days after the team netted a perfect attendance in its first official training on Friday when members of the squad were formally announced.
Ready to attend the second day of practice, however, were Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago, Jia Morado, Gretcel Soltones, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, Bea de Leon, and Denden Lazaro.
“Kanina ko lang nalaman mga after lunch eh 'yung walo lang naman ang dadating kaya napag-usapan namin ni (assistant coach) Tai (Bundit) na cancel na lang," Gorayeb said.
The women’s team is set to leave for Singapore SEA Games on June 4.
Source: Mei-Lin Lozada of Spin.ph
