POY ERRAM was part of the Gilas Pilipinas team for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. But suddenly he wasn't. The TNT center was in fact already practicing with the team and had been asked what number he wanted to wear.
But for some unexplained reason, the Thailand organizing committee did not approve of his inclusion, leaving Erram and the coaching staff scratching their heads. Erram, after all, is a homegrown player, a pure and not naturalized Filipino, and had previously seen action in the SEA Games.
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Philippine sports officials did not bother to fight for his inclusion and instead accepted the Thai's decision without question, which is surprising.
This development must have shocked Erram who has fully recovered from an ACL injury that kept him out for a couple of months.
Thankfully, the national team was ready for such exigencies. As we now know, head coach Norman Black had invited several players as reserves who are just waiting to be called if the occasion warranted.
The vacancy was quickly filled. Not only did Black find a replacement for Errram, a few others made it to the team at the last moment. These were Dalph Panopio, Abu Tratter, Justin Chua, and Allen Liwag. Interestingly, Liwag is the only Gilas player who hasn’t played in the PBA. - Reuben Terrado
Coronel-for-Malaluan switch yet to be cleared
Alas Pilipinas Women made a late and some say, a bold move by having Julia Coronel replace Alleiah Malaluan in the Alas women's volleyball team to Thailand for the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Malaluan, however, is joining the official Philippine delegation and her name remains on the list of volleyball players submitted to the Philippine Olympic Committee which makes her still part of the roster on the SEA Games’ athlete database.
On Monday morning, Alas Women arrived in Thailand carrying a modified lineup composed of six wing spikers, three setters, three middle blockers and two liberos.
But the proposed player swap has yet to get a formal approval with just three days left before the women’s volleyball tournament begins, SPIN.ph has learned.
The change, however, has raised some eyebrows. According to the source, some have questioned why a third setter was brought in instead of a fourth middle blocker, which they said could have bolstered the squad’s thin defensive core.
The Alas Pilipinas coaching staff reportedly allayed the fears, saying it has ‘plans in place’ on how to maximize and make full use of the unusual three-setter configuration for the national team.
It remains to be seen whether the switch will pay off, or if the change gets approval from organizers at all. Whatever the case, one team that has many fans glued in Thailand is the campaign of the women's Alas team made up of some of the best and most popular players the country has put together in years.
Its task is not ordinary. It is to break a 20-year medal drought in the SEA Games.- John Mark Garcia
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