Shakey’s V-League stars draw support of Smart

Clueless on the strength of the competition, multititled coach Roger Gorayeb and his Shakey’s V-League selection still exuded confidence of springing some surprise  in the Southeast Asian Qualification tournament June 14-16 in Quang Tri, Vietnam.

“Honestly, I haven’t scouted the other teams,” said Gorayeb, who was tasked to mentor the women’s squad, backed chiefly by Smart Communications,  in the tournament where the winner advances to the Asian Zonals. “I’m at a loss but our opponents will also be surprised because they don’t know the team,” added the Ateneo women’s volleyball head coach.

Gorayeb is banking on the depth and height of his team,  along with the players’ hunger to compete against host Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia.

“Most of them do not have international experience. But the eagerness and passion to play for the country will definitely help us,” said Gorayeb.

“Smart is one with the Filipino nation in wishing our volleyball team great success. Let’s relive the old glory,” said Smart Communications chief wireless advisor Doy Vea.

The top teams from the different zones will compete in the main Asian qualifiers set in Japan and China in September. The champion advances to the 2014 Women’s World Volleyball Championships to be held in Italy.

Headed by V-League guest player Suzanne Roces and the towering sister duo of Dindin and Jaja Santiago of Shakey’s V-League champion National University, the Filipinos  left for Vietnam yesterday after just a week of practice.

“Some people say that we’re not the national team, some people say we’re not going anywhere but that’s OK with us,” said Gorayeb, who last coached the national team in 2003. “We’ll just do the best we can.”

Also tapped to carry the national colors are spiker Alyssa Valdez, setter Rubie De Leon, Myla Pablo, former University of Perpetual Help libero Jheck Dionela, Pau Soriano of Adamson, Rhea Dimaculangan and Maika Ortiz of University of the Santo Tomas, Jen Reyes of National University and Iari Yongco of De La Salle-Dasmariñas.

Edjet Mabbayad and Ariel dela Cruz of National U will serve as Gorayeb’s assistants.

“It’s a nice exposure for the SEA Games. I hope they will retain the team after this tournament,” said Gorayeb.

The Philippine Olympic Committee asked V-League organizer Sports Vision Management Group Inc. to come up with a strong team following the pullout of the Philippine Volleyball Federation in the tournament.

The PVF declined to participate despite the $7,000 subsidy from the Asian Volleyball Confederation, forcing the sport’s governing body in the continent to turn to the POC for help.

Accel will be the delegation’s official outfitter with the Philippine Sports Commission shouldering the team’s airfare.