Screengrab from SEA Games website.
SINGAPORE — The highly popular Philippine women’s volleyball team hopes to live up to the hype both from home and here when it takes on Indonesia at 12 noon Wednesday in the Southeast Asian Games at the OCBC Arena Hall 2 here.
Composed of the best players in collegiate and club leagues, the PH women’s team hopes to make a splash on the country’s return to the biennial event after being absent for 10 years due to feuds inside the association.
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The lesser known men’s team also debuts against Malaysia at 5 p.m.
But even before the first serve is hit, Philippine officials created a stir when Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas secretary general Ricky Palou filed a protest against Indonesia over women’s team member Aprilla Santini Manganang.
The 23-year-old Manganang’s gender is being questioned because of her looks and power. “She very powerful, it’s like putting a male in the female division,” said PH coach Roger Gorayeb.
Still organizers said they will allow Manganang to play, but ordered a gender test on her.
The Philippines will be bannered by certified superstars in Dindin Manabat, Jaja Santiago, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, Rachel Anne Daquis, Aby Marano, Alyssa Valdez with Jovelyn Gonzaga as team captain.
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“Whether she (Manganang) plays of not, it doesn’t matter because we will be playing our best here,” said Gorayeb who’s had just a few weeks of training with the team who were busy playing for their respective clubs.
“It told them to give it their all, we may not win the gold but we should show a good performance,” added Gorayeb as he acknowledged the strength of other team especially regional powerhouse Thailand. CFC