Amigas to hold handball course

MANILA, Philippines — The newly formed Philippine women’s handball team has launched an aggressive grassroots development program in a bid to tap fresh, young talents.

Dubbed as the Amigas, the players and coaching staff will hold three-day course for teachers and coaches from June 1 to 3 at Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Amigas head coach Joanna Franquelli said their goal is to get more schools involved in handball and eventually gather enough players to get the sport included in the major collegiate athletic meets.

They have already conducted courses in some schools including St. Clare College in preparation for a possible handball competition in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu).

She said they will also form a developmental league for the newly formed clubs and schools and eventually recruit players for an 19-under squad that will represent the country in the International Handball Federation tourney in Malaysia this December.

The Amigas are also in the thick of preparations for the Asian Beach Games slated Nov. 14 to 23 in Phuket, Thailand.

Franquelli said the team’s intensive regimen includes beach training at Pico de Loro in Batangas one weekend every month.