BY BETHEENA UNITE
Commitment from the players and foreign exposures for the team are the factors that need immediate actions if our national women’s volleyball team is to become a regional power.
That’s what PH coach Shaq Delos Santos emphasized after her celebrated team fell short against the Indonesians in their battle for bronze Monday night in the 30th SEA Games at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“Una yung commitment ng lahat, oo sabihin natin, naglaro sila sa SEA Games, after ng SEA Games anong nangyari? Una, hindi namin sila kontrolado kasi siyempre kanya kanyang club ‘yan, yun nire-respect namin,” Delos Santos said after the team’s gripping five-set loss.
The former national team member pointed out that he could not just ask players to suit up for the national team considering that they have responsibilities to their mother clubs.
“Walang ganyan so kung paano lang siya i-weigh para mag-meet. Yun yung isang pinakamabigat para sa’min, ako hangga’t maari dapat laging buo yung team even nga yung club, e kailangan laging buo ‘yan,” he said.
“Kung sino yung nandiyan, ilalaban namin,” he added, stressing that sustained international exposures is a must.
But he was quick to argue that “it’s easier said than done.”
“Hindi siya ganung kadaling gawin dahil sa schedule din ng tournament. Mahirap para sa players, mahirap din para sa amin na buuin yung team. Kaya sinasabi ko na kulang kasi bungi-bungi siya,” the veteran tactician said.
He also cited other teams in the region like the Indonesia who had been fielding in same faces in their international appearances.
“Ako, to be honest, hindi siya ganun kadali. Lahat ng adjustment namin, lahat ng way para maayos, maging maganda ‘to, pero hindi siya madaling gawin kasi magkaka-conflict at conflict,” Delos Santos said, noting that calendars of tournament in the country and international meets are not in sync.
“Ako proud ako sa team namin kasi alam naman nila kung ano yung mga pinagdaanan namin. Kaming mga coaches lagi kaming nag-uusap na sobrang laban lang, laban tayo. Yun lang yung kinaya pero thankful pa rin kami sa experience na ‘to,” he added.
