PHILIPPINE women's volleyball coach Francis Vicente wants his wards focus on speedwork when they embark on their training camp in Japan from July 17 to August 2.
The team set to compete in the AVC Asian Women's Seniors Championship on August 9-17 and the 29th Southeast Asian Games on August 19-31 is expected to learn the Japanese style of play that is fast and defense oriented.
“Ang kailangan namin (iimprove sa Japan) bilis ng bawat isa kasi ‘yun ang nakikita kong ideal para sa ating team,” said Vicente during the send-off on Friday at Arellano University in Taft Avenue.
The team composed of team captain Mika Reyes, Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aby Marano, Denden Lazaro, Kim Fajardo, Rhea Dimaculangan, Maika Ortiz, Gen Casugod, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Ces Molina, Kim Dy and Dawn Macandili will have a twice-a-day, three-hour practice under the supervision of the Japanese coaches.
The national team will also have scrimmages against Japanese premier club teams Okayama Seagulls and Osaka Superiors and tuneup games with college teams Ryukoku University, Kobe Shinwa Women’s University and Osaka University.
“Kasi we have the height, we have the skill but we need to learn speed,” said Vicente.
“Pagkatapos (ng training camp) kailangan din hindi lang sa physical but also sa mental part ‘yun ang kailangan natin (madevelop),” he added.
Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. chose Japan as the training ground to pattern the current team from the 1993 squad that won the country's last gold in the biennial meet held in Singapore.
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