An all-Filipino crew will embark on a daunting task of improving its previous finishes in the tough, import-laden Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan.
The Rebisco-PSL Manila squad, doing away with foreign reinforcements for the first time, left for the former Soviet republic Sunday night hoping to at least better a 7th-place
finish last year.
The team is composed of Mika Reyes, Rachel Anne Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aby Maraño, Jaja Santiago, Denden Lazaro, Gen Casugod, Bia General, Lourdes Clemente, Maika Ortiz, Ces Molina, Kim Fajardo, Rhea Dimaculangan and Aiza Pontillas.
The Filipinos are bracketed with powerhouse clubs from China, Japan and Vietnam.
“Our goal is to beat Vietnam and keep the scores very close against Japan and China,” said national head coach Francis Vicente during the send-off.
The AWCC, according to Vicente, should give them a clear picture of what to expect in the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games this August.
The meet will run from May 25 to June 1 featuring the eight toughest clubs in the region.
Vicente said the team was upbeat despite having a complete attendance only for the first time on Sunday morning.