PH volleybelles optimistic despite tuneup defeats

Facing foes that at one point were simply too fast on the court, the country’s women’s national volleyball team began their 12-day training in Thailand on Wednesday with a couple of exhibition losses to the host country.

But national coach Shaq delos Santos doesn’t mind.

“It’s good to see the girls are using their own individual experience in trying to win the matches,” Delos Santos told the Inquirer after the match against Thailand’s national squad, an Asian powerhouse.

The women’s team also lost to Thailand’s under-23 squad, but Delos Santos said the Filipino squad here isn’t the same one that will vie for a medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games later this year.

Stars like Alyssa Valdez and Jovelyn Gonzaga will join the squad only on Sunday.

“We make do with the rotation but our goal here is to improve every single set,” Delos Santos said.