Athlete and model Mariana Andrade Costa poses with volleyballs following a training session of the Brazilian women’s volleyball team at George Brown College in Toronto, Canada July 17, 2015 during the 2015 Pan American Games. AFP PHOTO Eva HAMBACH / AFP PHOTO / EVA HAMBACH
Swiss powerhouse Volero Zurich arrives Thursday night in Manila, signaling the start of the country’s hosting of the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship set from Oct. 18 to 23 at Mall of Asia Arena.
Led by Rio bronze medalist Foluke Akinradewo of the United States and international model Mariana Costa of Brazil, Volero Zurich will be landing in Manila at 6:40 p.m. ahead of the six teams that will also compete in the tournament organized by the Philippine Superliga and Eventcourt.
Aside from Akinradewo, also arriving are superstars like Natalya Mammadova, Ekaterina Orlova and Silvija Popovic.
Costa, however, will surely be crowd favorite with her rare brew of charm and power.
Costa, in fact, appeared on Playboy Brazil as its cover girl a couple of years back.
The newly crowned Swiss Supercup champion will be handled by Zoran Terzic, who guided the Serbian national women’s team to a historic silver medal finish in the Summer Games.
After Volero Zurich, Rexona-Sesc Rio, Pomi Casalmaggiore, Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul and VakifBank Istanbul will be arriving Friday, giving them just enough time to acclimatize to the rainy Manila weather before the tough grind ahead.