Members of PSL F2 Logistics Manila take their turn at the SportsIQ booth. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/NEXTVIDEO
Playing against the best in the world, PSL F2 Logistics Manila will have to temper expectations when it sees action in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship from Oct. 18 to 23 at Mall of Asia Arena.
And all the team’s locals promise is they stay true to their identity.
“Knowing Filipinos, palaban talaga tayo at sabi nga nila ’yun mabibigay namin, magandang laban (We won’t back down. And as they say, we always give a good fight),” said spiker Frances Molina Thursday night at SportsIQ, the Inquirer’s omni-platform sports talk show.
Mika Reyes, Jaja Santiago, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Jen Reyes and Molina are five of the seven locals who will join seven imports with the F2 Logistics squad that faces the world’s top women’s clubs and they expressed readiness to strut their stuff if they get floor time.
“We’re not all starters, we accept it, and pag nabigyan ng chance pumasok (if you get fielded in), just do your best,” said Reyes.
“Siguro more matured na kami sa loob ng court and ’yung determination namin mataas (We will be more matured on the court and our determination is always high),” said Santiago. “Gawin namin (We will do our) best and just focus.”
The Philippines’ road is littered with what head coach Moro Branislav described as the “Barcelona and Real Madrid” of women’s volleyball.
PSL-F2 Logistics is grouped with defending champions Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul, European Champions League winners Pomi Casalmaggiore, and South American champions Rexona-Sesc Rio in Pool A.
Bangkok Glass, the third-placers in the Asian Women’s Club Championship, is in Pool B with 2014 Asian champions Hisamitsu Springs Kobe, 2013 World champions VakifBank Istanbul, and 2015 bronze medal holders Volero Zurich.
“’Pag nabigyan ng chance pumasok, give our best, and ’yung pressure nandyan na so focus lang talaga, (If we get the chance to play, give our best; the pressure is always there so just focus),” said Reyes.
Gonzaga said she expects the pressure but it’s on them to carry it on their shoulders.
“We trained hard para mabigyan ng laban ang mga nanonood (to give a good fight for those who will watch us),” said Gonzaga. “We will give our best talaga.”