Davao Lady Agilas have spunk

In this space last March 29, we had advocated that provincial teams in the ongoing Shakey’s V-League play with more spunk and pizzazz.

This was to really give the fancied Manila teams a serious run for their money and to show everyone their true capabilities.

The team that has clearly fit that mold is the Davao Lady Agilas.

With still a game against University of Santo Tomas this weekend, the team from Davao has already strung together three straight triumphs.

They began by slaying Far Eastern University in four sets, then bounced back from two sets down to win in five against NCAA champion University of Perpetual Help and then cut down National University in four sets.

Despite playing on successive play dates (as requested by the team because they arrived at the tail end of the classification round), the team has played with tremendous high-strung energy.

Balls that seem out of reach are still fought for. The Agilas’ floor defense is active and persistent, surprising many teams that the ball is still in play even after uncorking nifty combination plays or deceptive drops.

This virtual All-Star team of players from different Davao schools is playing like a cohesive machine under coach Shane Agao.

The outstanding players are Jocemar Tapic, Angel Antipuesto, May Agton, Venus Flores, Irish Dignadice and setter Reynelen Raterta. Raterta is a bundle of kinetic energy as she tracks down almost every ball and is in good position for excellent sets most of the time.

To further hone their volleyball skills, the Lady Agilas scheduled a “friendly” with UAAP champion Ateneo last Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The two teams are in different groups in the V-League and could meet later in the tournament since Davao has already qualified for the quarterfinals.

Lady Eagle veteran Natasha Faustino reported that Ateneo won against Davao in four sets.

Faustino, who played libero in two sets of the match, said the Agilas had “very good defense and fast spikes.”

Faustino is one of the Lady Eagles who graduated last March and looks forward to soon working in the corporate world.

The Lady Agilas are a thrill to watch and have proven that a provincial team need not be cowed by the bright lights of the air-conditioned playing venue, the attention of media and the challenge of being away from the comforts of home.

They should continue to be a draw for the league that has yet to see a provincial team really go deep in the tournament in its decade-old history. So how far will the Lady Agilas go?

Their determination is as huge as the city they represent and are as fearless as the Philippine eagle they use as their symbol. If opposing teams take them too lightly, they could pay very dearly.