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THE
national girls’ volleyball team has the capability to
advance to the quarterfinal round of the seventh Asian
Youth Girls’ Volleyball Championship.
This was
the assessment of youth team coach Francis Vicente. The
Asian tournament starts on Saturday at the PhilSports
Arena in Pasig City.
“That is
our initial goal and priority,” said Vicente.
The
Philippines drew a bye on opening day and will play Sri
Lanka on Sunday and Australia on Monday in Group A of
the four-group tournament. The top two teams in each
group will advance to the quarterfinal round.
“All my
players are all excited to play and I’m sure they will
do their best,” Vicente said.
Heading
the RP team is Alyssa Valdez and Aleona Santiago, both
from University of Santo Tomas, and Patty Orendain from
Benedicto National High School.
Australia and Iran are already in the country while nine
other nations, including defending champion Japan, will
arrive Thursday for the event supported by Mikasa,
Shakey’s, Thermos and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Also
competing are Kazakhstan, India, Chinese-Taipei, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, China, South Korea and Indonesia.
Group B
is composed of Japan, India, and Indonesia; Group C
South Korea, Iran and Thailand; and Group D China,
Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan.
The
eight-day tournament, sanctioned by the International
Volleyball Federation, is also supported by former
congressman and event executive chairman Prospero Pichay
and Sen. Francis Pangilinan. This will serve as a
qualifying event for the 2009 World Youth Volleyball
Championship. |
