Alas Pilipinas’ Arah Panique during the AVC Challenge Cup press conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Despite being a late addition to the team, Arah Panique is eager to help Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Challenge Cup, which fires off on Wednesday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Panique, a backup spiker for National University, will have to cut the Lady Bulldogs’ UAAP Season 86 championship celebration short after receiving a call to represent the country.
The young opposite spiker received the call-up from coach Jorge Souza De Brito after University of the East super rookie Casiey Dongallo suffered a right wrist injury and her NU teammates Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon begged off from playing for the national team after a grueling season including their school works.
The Naga City College Foundation product may have only trained for a few days ahead of the competition but she is determined to contribute to the team composed of PVL and UAAP stars.
“Ipapakita ko lang po kung ano yung pinapakita ko sa UAAP, and siguro po, yung eagerness ko din po is ia-apply ko din po para makatulong po sa ates,” said Panique, who provided the energy off NU’s bench during her rookie season.
“Focus inside the court and communication din po lalo na po bago lang po kami nagsama. Actually, two days lang po ako nakasama sa kanila sa training. Itatrabaho ko na lang po yung kaya ko trabahuhin,” she added.
Although she was a late call-up, Panique is no stranger to the national team as she and the core of National U represented the country last year in the Southeast Asia V League and the AVC Asian Seniors Championship.
“Honored lang ako kasi kinuha ulit ako ni coach Jorge for AVC and sobrang thankful po ako sa mga ates na nandiyan lagi sa amin na naga-guide po and pinupush po kami na kayanin every training. Happy lang talaga ako,” she said.
Panique is teaming up with her UAAP rivals Angel Canino, Thea Gagate, and Julia Coronel of La Salle, and PVL stars Jia De Guzman, Sisi Rondina, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Dell Palomata, Cherry Nunag, Jennifer Nierva, Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler, Faith Nisperos, and Fifi Sharma.
Alas opens its Pool A campaign against Australia on Thursday before taking on India on Friday, Iran on Saturday, and Chinese Taipei on Sunday.