PH Women’s volleyball team lose tune-ups in Japan

By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Philippine National Women’s volleyball team’s overseas training isn’t going all too well – already losing twice in their ongoing stint in Japan, first against the Yamanashi Chuo Bank followed by another against the Yamagata Prestige International Aranmare.

In preparation for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines are giving an emphasis on practices and tune-up games. The PH squad is still currently missing the services of superstar Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado who are still playing for their local clubs in the PH.

Both games with the Japanese squads ended in a beating, as PH dropped all three sets to Yamagata, 24-26, 22-25, 17-25, and only managed to win a single set against Yamanashi, 19-25, 24-26, 23-25, 25-23.

It has already been two months since the PH team joined and fought a series of circuit tournaments and tons of tune-ups, but still found many things needed to be ironed out.

The Japanese coaches of both teams they faced said that the PH squad has a very talented roster, all are outstanding individuals, but they have to work on their cohesion and their chemistry.

“Your physical abilities and skills are good. Individually the Philippine team is very good but you need to work on your team chemistry. You have to train more on your connections,” said Yamanashi Chuo Bank head coach Chie Tsuji.