Foton PH makes last stand vs China team

BIÑAN CITY—A band of disciplined, highly trained Chinese players stand in the way of Foton Pilipinas and the semifinals on Friday.

The embattled Tornadoes make one last stand for the Final Four when it takes on Ba’yi of China in the no-tomorrow quarterfinal duel of the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Club Championships at 1:30 p.m. at Alonte Sports Arena here.

A win against the unbeaten Chinese club would catapult the Filipinos to an unprecedented semifinal stint in the top-tier club tournament. A defeat, however, will relegate them to the battle for fifth.

Team captain Jaja Santiago who, after playing against Altay VC, scooted to Pasig to play in another league Wednesday, said they will still be giving it their all—even if the odds are stacked against them.

“Our opponents are also giving it their best against us, and that shows their respect for us,” Santiago said in Filipino.

Jovelyn Gonzaga, the Philippine Army enlisted personnel, said in Filipino: “We can’t back down because the other teams are very strong. That’s why we are here. We want to face the best out there see how it goes.”

Foton Pilipinas’ Italian coach Fabio Menta said the Philippines needs to have a true-blue professional squad.

“Right now our players go to school or work in the morning and then play in the evening,” he said, noting the need for a longer, systematic training and weightlifting program because the Tornadoes “don’t have enough muscles.”