Feel The Game Bobby Motus

The Asian Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup is a continental competition between senior national women’s teams from Asia and Oceania which are members of the Asian Volleyball Confederation. It has 14 member teams – Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Founded in 2018, it was supposed to be held every two years.  For some reason, the initial tournament did not push thru and the second edition two years later, was cancelled due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic. The format was changed to an annual tournament to serve as qualifier for the FIVB Challenger Cup.

It finally began in 2022 at Thailand with 5 national teams (Hongkong, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Uzbekistan). The Philippines joined in 2023, placing 7th out of the 11 teams that participated.   The recently concluded AVC Challenge Cup held in Manila had 10 participants with Vietnam retaining the title.

I haven’t followed PH volleyball that much but was intrigued by the negativity surrounding the present composition of the national women’s team. Trivial things like the hasty formation and the lack of preparation, why some players were on the lineup instead of their favorites, the capability of the foreign coach and his local staff.

I watched replays of all their games up to the bronze medal match and the results speak for themselves.  Yet there are still unhappy and bitter individuals.

This always happens. The football NWT, despite their commendable efforts in the FIFA WWC, still was not received well by people thinking they know better yet whose only claim to fame is hiding behind the keyboards with ridiculous aliases.

The volleyball NWT had previously medaled in the SEA Games but this is the first time after so many decades of fruitless tries that we had an Asian level medal and this is a cause for celebration, not dissatisfaction.

The national federation decides on who calls the shots for the team and players are chosen for a reason, whether we like it or not. Likewise, a coach decides who plays and how long they play depending on what he sees as the game progresses. There’s really nothing we can do if we’re not directly involved with the team. Except rant and bash.

I saw in Alas Pilipinas a cohesive and competitive unit and as per reports, the team is to be kept intact. Team captain and tournament best setter Jia Morado de Guzman was the steadying and unifying force. The core of Angel Canino, Dawn Macandili-Katindig, Jennifer Nierva, Eya Laure, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, Vanie Gandler and Sisi Rondina with her Cherry bombs made watching the games enjoyable. Of course, other players like Faith Nisperos, Cherry Nunag, Dell Palomata, Julia Coronel and Ara Panique completed the collective effort. Credit also goes to social media-maligned coach Jorge de Brito with his calm on-court presence and his staff.

A merry mix of veterans and youngsters who made bronze glitter like gold.