SINGAPORE – Alyssa Valdez has backed calls to keep intact the women's volleyball team that competed in the 28th Southeast Asian Games so it can be better prepared for future international competitions.
Valdez said she hopes the Singapore stint will just be the start of something big for the national team, which returned to the SEA Games volleyball competition after a decade-long absence.
“Nag-start na tayo, sana ito na talaga ‘yung start kasi ‘yung mga ibang teams na nakakalaban natin, pagbalik sa country nila, hindi sila nadi-disband. Sana it’s the start,” said Valdez.
The team only trained for a short period of time, leading national head coach Roger Gorayeb to say later that he had hoped the Philippine squad "trained for two years instead of two weeks."
Ateneo coach and Philippine team trainer Tai Bundit said he believes the Filipina spikers can beat 'every team' in this tournament with longer training.
In its return to the SEA Games, the celebrated women’s team finished with a 1-2 win-loss card in the preliminaries, failing to advance to the semifinals that would have merited an automatic bronze medal.
After seeing the quality of the competition here, Valdez said foreign exposure is crucial to a team's campaign.
“Definitely, iba ‘yung laro ng Pilipino, iba ‘yung sa labas. At least nandoon ‘yung awareness mo sa international competition. Doon ka nakakakuha ng confidence,” Valdez said.
Overall, Valdez said she is satisfied with the play of the team in Pool B, where it was grouped with top regional teams Indonesia and Vietnam as well as Malaysua.
“We were really inspired because Vietnam is the strongest in our group,' said the reigning UAAP MVP. "We enjoyed every game. Konting training pa.”
Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph