Blog: Retiring Salak irreplaceable for Army

Army made short work of Cagayan Valley to sweep its way to the Shakey's V-League Season 11 Open Conference title at The Arena in San Juan City just recently. It was the Lady Troopers' first championship since they went all the way three seasons ago. It was another dominating performance by Army, which also topped the Philippine Super Liga a couple of months back and should lord it over the AFP Olympics that is now ongoing.

And we have several thoughts.

1. Tina Salak, the 38-year-old leader of the Army band, has announced she's retiring soon. She has been the face of these triumphant Lady Troopers from God knows when. She's also the adhesive that kept Army together. Originally a spiker in her teens, Salak decided to become a setter at 22 years old and she has been successful as one since then. She's the leader too. So replacing her will be hard. Army coach Rico de Guzman says Salak is irreplaceable. He's right.

2. De Guzman said the Salak void can be filled two ways. It's either by committee, meaning in alternating parts, or by finding someone like Salak or the closest thing to the lady Army Corporal.

3. So we find a replacement. Guess who it is? Not Rachel Ann Daquis, not Nene Bautista, not Mary Jean Balse, definitely not Michelle Carolino, who are all former Shakey's V-League MVPs. The right person for the Salak job is no other else than Jovelyn Gonzaga, who is as versatile, smart and knack for ball as the former.

4. Taking a closer look at Gonzaga, we find a 22-year-old Education major at Central Philippine U in Iloilo who made a name for herself as a three-time national champion of the Nestea Beach Volley tournament. She's also a two-time Finals MVP, one she won when she was a Shakey's V-League rookie in 2012 during which she and a pretty Daquis won a championship and another just a few days back.

5. What's more important, Gonzaga has accepted the challenge and has trained as an understudy of Salak since June. It will take time though. And for all we know, Gonzaga could turn out better than Salak. Get back to us if she did a decade from now.

What are your thoughts?

Follow me on Twitter: @JoeySVillar

Check out my blog at Sportsmaryosep: http://sportsmaryosep.wordpress.com/

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Editor’s note: Joey Villar is a veteran sportswriter for The Philippine Star, covering college basketball and other sports. He also blogs occasionally for Unblogged Sports and NBA.com Philippines. His views are purely his own and do not reflect those of the organizations he writes for.