THE dynamic duos of Premier Volleyball League and Philippine Superliga team up as Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado are set to join Filipina-Americans Kalei Mau and Alohi Robins-Hardy in the Philippine women’s volleyball pool training camp in Thailand.
The much-anticipated teaming up of PVL MVP Valdez and Best Setter Morado along with their counterparts in the PSL, Mau and Robins-Hardy, is going to happen as the second batch of the pool catch up in the Bangkok training camp starting on Sunday before the Southeast Asian Grand Prix from September 20 to 22.
“Sobrang bago sa amin 'to ni Jia kasi magkaka-teammate siya ng matangkad na open spiker na sobrang lakas, ako din we're going to be exposed sa setter na as tall as Alohi,” Valdez said. “So, Im really excited to learn so many things from them kasi for sure, iba rin 'yung background and culture nila in terms of playing volleyball.”
Besides teaming up with the reigning PSL MVP in Mau, the phenomenal outside hitter is also excited to spike the set plays of Cignal’s 6-foot-2 playmaker.
“For the longest time, you've seen me play with Jia and Kim Fajardo na parang magkaka-height din naman kami. Rhea Dimaculangan also,” said the former Ateneo star on the do-it-all setter. “I haven't played with a setter as tall as Alohi. So, for sure, it's a different flight ng bola, different height ng bola, different timing so that's why we're going to Thailand as early as now also para maka-training kami.”
That’s why Valdez will be asking Morado for pointers on Robins-Hardy’s setting.
Morado, for her part, is also looking forward to dish out plays on F2 Logistics superstar Mau.
“I've seen her play. I've trained with her a few times and na-set-up-an ko na siya and sobrang wow, sobrang lakas niya talaga,” said the multi-awarded playmaker on the 6-foot-2 outside hitter. “Doon ko nakukuha 'yung satisfaction ko is seeing na I can set up players na ganoon kalakas tapos mabigyan ko pa ng single block.”
On teaming up with Robins-Hardy, Morado doesn’t see her fellow setter as a threat, it’s more of an added firepower for the Philippines with a lot of talented players.
“I think it's good that we have more choices sa loob ng National team. We just wanna look at it positively na we can learn from each other,” she said.
The dynamic duo of Creamline along with other PVL players Jovelyn Gonzaga, Maddie Madayag and Eya Laure are going to catch up in the training camp starting on Sunday.
Valdez is elated to team up with the first batch composed of Aby Maraño, Mau, Robins-Hardy, Mylene Paat, Ces Molina, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Majoy Baron, Dawn Macandili, Kath Arado and new addition Roselyn Doria, who already had a series of tune-up games against powerhouse Thai squads.
“I'm really excited kung gaano 'yung competitiveness ng makakasama namin kasi as players,” the former three-time UAAP MVP said. “Yung mga nadadagdag na mas magagaling, mas skillfull, mas capable to play volleyball, mas nacha-challenge 'yung isa't isa siyempre to fight for their position.”
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