No samba for volleybelles

MANILA, Philippines — It’s fun to samba in Brazil but for the pool of 14 on the Philippine women’s volleyball team, there’s been no dancing in the streets as they’re focused on raising their level of play at the Sportville Training Center in Barueri City, Sao Paolo, for two weeks up to Wednesday before heading home then leaving for the Hanoi SEA Games in May.

PNVF national team commission chairman Tonyboy Liao said it took about 35 hours traveling from Manila to Barueri but no rest for the weary as after checking in at the hotel late at night, practice was next morning from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. “We left Manila on April 12 at 9:30 p.m. and arrived April 13 in Istanbul at 5 a.m.,” recounted Liao. “We had an eight-hour layover then took a flight to Sao Paolo at 1:30 p.m. We arrived at 8 p.m. and drove to Barueri. We had a three-hour practice the next morning then at 7 p.m., played a tune-up against Brazilian Superliga Serie B champion Energis 8 Sao Caetano.” The team played four tune-ups, losing to Sao Caetano, 4-1 (25-20, 25-17, 27-29, 25-20, 15-9), beating Sesi Sorocaba, 5-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-18, 25-17, 15-9) and upending Barueri U-21 twice, 4-0 (33-31, 26-24, 25-20, 25-17) and 3-1 (25-11, 22-25, 25-13, 26-24).

Liao said the regimen is twice a day training, once in the morning and once late afternoon. The girls are staying in four triple-shared rooms and one twin share. “During Holy Week, we had the training center all to ourselves,” he said. “We’re grateful to Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Mario Chan and Consul General Chad Jacinto and staff for their support.”

Jaja Santiago flew in from Japan where she plays and rendezvoused with the team in Istanbul. The pool was initially 16 but Fil-Am high schoolers Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero failed to secure their Philippine passports on time. Another pick Deanna Wong is nursing a shin injury and was replaced by Kyle Negrito. The others in the roster are Alyssa Valdez, Mylene Paat, Ces Molina, Del Palomata, Jema Galanza, Iris Tolenada, Kat Tolentino, Dawn Macandili, Kath Arado, Riri Meneses, Majoy Baron and skipper Aby Marano. Liao said it’s a mixture of PVL standouts with three from Creamline, four from F2, two from PLDT, one from Choco Mucho, two from Cignal and two from Chery Tiggo.