Fibr Power Pinays

Volleyball is really gaining momentum here in our country, for as long as I could remember Basketball has always been the biggest sporting event that Filipinos follow it all changed recently when crowds started to draw in and watch live games of the v-league. For someone who has been playing the sport it's a big boost of confidence, gone are the days when the sport wasn't considered as important as basketball.

Naks gumigitna! Photo from Sandy Bediones

There was a brief moment when the country caught volleyball mania, this was during the 90's when the World Grand Prix was held here. We were able to watch world class volleyball as top teams like Brazil, China, Cuba, Japan and Russia came over several times for a leg or 2 of the WGP. Sadly, the Pinoy's interest in the sport wavered and this culminated in the absence of our country getting represented in international competitions.

Power Pinays, photo from Jheck Dionela's IG

Now that the sport is alive, people have taken action and reformed the national team with the aim of sending the teams to international competitions. This started months ago and a selection from the top teams in the V-league were chosen to represent the country in Vietnam for the Asian Zonals qualification. Now, another team has been formed that played in Thailand for the Asian Volleyball Championships. The videos below are from their match against China. 

Sadly, we lost that game but it wasn't as if it was unexpected. China being the taller and more experienced of the two easily won. China's spikers had a field day with what little to no blocking from our girls, the effort was certainly there but they were just too damn tall, too damn high leapers and all around too damn good. I'm just happy that they got the chance to play against a team like China, a team that sits among the top teams of the FIVB rankings. 

Gata the libero is back to her original form, Royce Tubino was a revelation as an open hitter and Maizo was dependable as always. Ang sarap ng feeling pag nakakakuha sila ng point against China, nakaka-proud!

We all have very high hopes for this team, I just hope they find enough and consistent funding to continue their training and hopefully train abroad. There was also an issue among local clubs not allowing their players to play for the national team, sana mawala na yun we badly need their services playing for the flag.

Now if we could only reform the Men's National Team.