ABY Marano is upbeat despite the defeat as the Philippine women’s volleyball team was kept winless by powerhouse Thailand in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
The Filipinas, who suffered a five-set loss in the opener to Vietnam, was dealt a straight-sets loss by the 11-time defending champion Thai squad on Thursday.
But the close third set had the crowd at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City cheering wildly, and it gave skipper Marano reason to be confident as they go for a podium finish.
The loss put the Filipinas in the bronze medal match against fellow winless team Indonesia. Only four teams are seeing action in women’s volleyball.
“Masasabi ko na natuwa ako kasi at least nag-dilang anghel ako sa sinabi ko na bigyan namin sila ng magandang laban,” Marano said.
“Start pa lang ng training namin, inisip na namin na kailangan mabigyan namin ng magandang laban talaga yung Thailand para di naman kami bugbog sarado sa kanila.”
Marano noted the Filpinas have made huge improvements since returning to the regional tournament four years ago, and that they had little time to prepare for this year’s meet.
“Since 2015, talagang halos parang hindi kami maka-block, hindi kami makahawak ng bola nila, minsan mapapa-‘ay, andun na yung bola.’ Parang pinaglalaruan kami, para kaming ginagawang tanga talaga, parang di kami marunong mag-volleyball,” said Marano, who is playing in the SEAG for the third time.
“Parang ginagawa kaming hindi volleyball player nung nagsisimula kami. Siguro nasa pro na sila, kami elementary. Tapos di kami umaabot ng 15. Kung umabot man kami ng 15, masaya na kami.”
“Napakalaki na ng naitakbo ng volleyball sa Pilipinas. Simula nung four years ago up to now,” the middle blocker said. “Nakita nyo naman ang konti ng preparasyon na talagang naibigay sa amin kumbaga sa Thailand na magkakasama sila dekada na siguro sila magkakasama, nakita mo yung improvement in four years.”
“Para sa amin napakalaking karangalan na yun na mapahirapan namin yung Thailand kasi more than 10 years na silang naging champion dito sa SEA Games tapos napapahirapan namin sila, nabigyan namin sila ng laban na maganda,” she added.
Marano also lashed back at critics who insist such result is no cause for celebration.
“Siguradong para sa amin, masayang-masaya na kami. Alam nyo naman kami, mababaw lang ang aming kaligayahan. So yung mga ganung bagay, ibigay nyo na sa amin yun. Kahit natalo tayo ngayon, wag lang kayong susuko na maniwala sa amin dito,” she said.
“Yung experience na yun, madadala namin sa mga susunod na laro. At the same time, yung kumpyansa, kasi kung kinaya naming makipagdikdikan sa Thailand kanina,” Marano said. “Siguro hindi imposible na kakayanin namin yung susunod na mga laro namin. So dadalhin namin lahat ng mga natutunan namin at lahat ng paghihirap na inexert namin kanina, yung efforts, dodoblehin pa namin.”
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