PH sports ‘darlings’ take on hosts in women’s volleyball

KUALA LUMPUR—The Philippine women’s volleyball team, the delegation sweethearts, begins its long and arduous trek to the podium Thursday when it faces host Malaysia at 2 p.m. in the 29th Southeast Asian Games at MITEC Hall 11.

The team is composed of the A-list stars of a sport whose popularity has been skyrocketing and boasts months of training that sent them to Japan and Kazakhstan.

“We have a very strong team,” said head coach Francis Vicente. “This is the best we got. I hope we beat Malaysia and come up with a strong start.”

Two years ago in Singapore, the Philippines scored straight sets win against Malaysia. But this time, the Filipinos will have to deal with the hometown crowd as well.

“We have to play with toughness and intensity,” said Vicente, who is eyeing at least a podium finish for the team that just last week finished eighth in the Asian Championships.

In the Asians, the Philippines beat Vietnam and Hong Kong, banking on a newfound chemistry among superstars Alyssa Valdez, Aby Marano, Jaja Santiago and team captain Mika Reyes.

The Philippines will take on Vietnam next in the group stage before going up against either Indonesia or Thailand in the sudden-death semifinals.

The country last won a gold in 1993 with a team composed of Nene Ybanez-Chavez. During the 2005 Games in Manila, the Philippines wound up third—the last time the country won a medal in the sport.