Palma, Phillips pick up lessons after loss to Japan squad

Rem Palma over Miku Taniuchi. PSL PHOTO

MJ Phillips and Remy Palma, who are hoping to contribute to the training of the national team currently fine-tuning its game in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Super Cup, are getting acquainted with top-notch volleyball competition.

Despite dropping a lopsided match against Japan collegiate champion team University of Tsukuba, 25-10, 25-16, 25-16, on Thursday evening, the leaders of PSL Shine said it’s all worth it.

“It’s great to see that [type of competition], we are just going to improve seeing that every time,” said Phillips, the main open spiker for Sta. Lucia Realty.

Palma, Petron’s feisty middle blocker, was also in awe of the speed and power of University of Tsukuba, which has now strung up two straight wins in the weeklong meet.

“They can be overwhelming,” Palma said in Filipino. “If you’re not alert, if you’re not focused, you will get lost because they move so fast specially in transition.”

PSL Shine dropped to 0-2 in the pocket tournament but the team is glad to participate in a contest that helps sharpen the national team for the SEA Games.

“Anyway we can help [national team training], like, obviously we would do it,” Phillips said.