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Alas men driven to be better after finishing 10th in AVC

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Alas Pilipinas during a game against Thailand in the AVC Challenge Cup in Bahrain.–AVC PHOTO

The Alas Pilipinas men’s team ended its Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup campaign not in the way it was hoping for, but with faith that the Filipinos can be better moving forward.

Alas finished 10th after a 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20 loss to Southeast Asian power Thailand Friday night in Manama, Bahrain, teaching the Nationals valuable lessons and spurring team leader, setter Joshua Retamar, to strive harder.

“We fell short because we [only had] a short time [in] training,” Retamar said after the disappointing finish. “We will come back stronger.”

National team coach Sergio Veloso also knows that it won’t be an easy task for Alas to compete against the incredible talent in the AVC tournament as the Filipinos won just once, against a young Indonesian crew, and lost in straight sets to world No. 31 China and Bahrain.

The matchup against Thailand was also not an easy task because the Thais were also determined not to slide down in the classification after failing to defend its AVC crown. Khonhan Amornthep pelted the Philippine defense with 30 points, with Marck Espejo and Jade Disquitado leading Alas with 16 and 14 points, respectively.

“We need to raise our level to be able to beat the top teams in the world,” Veloso told the Inquirer. “[But] this is not that simple.

Regional level

“Currently, our level is regional. There are several factors that make a national team reach a higher level: More quality training time, many international games with strong teams and above all, have the involvement and support of the entire Philippine volleyball community,” he added.

After some rest, Alas can build on the gains from playing tough sides in the AVC, where Veloso’s charges gained valuable international experience while playing “very good matches.”

Veloso also said that he will finalize plans with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation on what tournaments to compete in.

“We need to build our communication, our pattern in blockings and in our attack,” Retamar said.

“It was [still] a good run. The AVC is a strong competition … We maintained our position from last year and played at a higher level,” Veloso said.

One of Taka Minowa’s goals is to help PH volleyball reach Olympics

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Alas Pilipinas girls coach Taka Minowa.–Photo from SMM Volleybal

MANILA, Philippines — New Alas Pilipinas girls coach Taka Minowa believes providing more international exposure to the country’s grassroots program is crucial to the development of Philippine volleyball.

The Japanese coach, who was tasked to handle the youth team, is eager to help young Filipino players tap into their full potential beginning in the ongoing 22nd Princess Cup Southeast Asian Under-18 Women’s Volleyball Championship and the upcoming Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship from June 16 to 23 both happening in Thailand.

Minowa stressed the importance of developing a young national team, saying that competing internationally as frequently as possible could eventually lead to Philippine volleyball improving its standing in Asia and finally reaching the Olympics.

READ: Alas Pilipinas girls rip Singapore to open Thailand U18 tilt

“Our goal is to assess the level of Asian volleyball and gain experience playing volleyball while representing our country with pride,” Minowa told Inquirer Sports.

“This is the initial step in strategizing how we can reach the top tier of Asian volleyball and eventually compete in the Olympics.”

Minowa, the husband of former national team star Jaja Santiago, had a winning debut as Alas u18 coach after demolishing Singapore, 25-14, 25-6, 25-12, in the Princess Cup opener on Saturday in Thailand 

The Akari coach is calling the shots for a young team composed of University of Santo Tomas stars Kimberly Rubin, Jaila Adrao, Maile Salang, Aneeza Santos, Lianne Penuliar, Avril Bron, and Chasliey Pepito, as well as National University-Nazareth School standouts Denesse Daylisan, Akeyla Bartolabac, Harlyn Serneche, and Bubay Belen as well as Samarah Gillian Marzan of La Salle-Zobel and Ashley Macalinao of Kings’ Montessori School.

READ: Alas Pilipinas girls set for two U18 tournaments

“I am looking forward to working with this talented group of individuals and helping them reach their full potential on the court,” he said.

Minowa is honored to handle the girls’ team after the appointment of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, led by president Tats Suzara, and Akari, which backed his squad in their two international tournaments.

The PVL coach is tempering his expectations as they are just getting started but he knows that he has a competitive team, who will fight every game for the country’s pride.

“[I expect] to instill a sense of pride in the players who have the privilege of representing the national team,” said Minowa. “I don’t expect too much from these young girls but for now, I want to show and share my coaching program and hopefully, eventually they will learn and adapt it.”

Fencer Maxine Esteban wins silver ahead of Paris Olympics

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Maxine Esteban, left, poses with her silver medal at the 2nd African Fencing Championships. Photo from International Fencing Federation

MANILA, Philippines—Maxine Esteban earned a silver medal in the 22nd African Fencing Championships ahead of her upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics debut.

The Filipino-Ivorian fencer fell short against Egyptian fencer Yara Elsharkawy, 8-9, in the final of the women’s individual foil event on Thursday evening (Manila time) in Casablanca, Morocco.

The 23-year-old Olympian surpassed her bronze finish last year.

READ: Maxine Esteban off to Paris Olympics carrying PH pride

“[Silver medal] in the African Championships’ 24 [in Morocco]! Missed the gold by 1 point but I’m so grateful for this! God is so gracious. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me get this!! To God be the glory,” wrote Esteban on her Instagram.

Esteban, the World No.37, will train in Poland and Paris with the Japanese national fencing team as she prepares for the Olympics.

When Esteban had a short vacation in Manila, she expressed that she is still representing both the Philippines and Ivory Coast.

READ: Samantha Catantan’s Paris ticket draws up potential clash with Esteban

“You can really never take away the Filipino in me and I will forever be Filipino,” she told the reporters when she watched the Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Challenge Cup in Rizal Memorial Coliseum last May.

The former Ateneo star is also grateful for the continuous support of the Filipinos despite her naturalization and she is looking forward to fence with her good friend and fellow Filipino Samantha Catantan in the latter round of the Olympics.

“Everyone who qualified in the Olympics, they’re all really good fencers. Just like Sam, she would be a worthy fencer to fence against. It would be an honor to fence against her. I’m really looking forward if ever that time comes,” Esteban said. “Hopefully, hindi kami magkatapat sa early stages and you know maybe magkatapat na lang kami sa Finals.”

Tested warriors carry PH fight in Subic Bay

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John Alcala. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A total of 54 countries will be represented when more than a thousand athletes answer the starting gun on Sunday in the backbreaking Ironman Philippines and IM 70.3 events at Subic Bay Boardwalk where the host country will be fielding some of its best.

John Alcala will banner the local charge in the full Ironman, which will be over a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-km bike and 42.2-km run race with the most scenic spots in Subic Bay as backdrop even as August Benedicto returns to the country seeking another 70.3 win in two years.

But before that, the Ironkids race will be held on Saturday with boys and girls from six to 15 years old disputing trophies in several categories. The distances for the kids depend on the age range, with those in the 13-15 division tackling a 250-meter swim, 6-km bike and 2-km run race.

Benedicto, who now calls Germany home and comes over to participate in selected events, triumphed in the Cebu edition in 2022, ruling the 1.9-km-swim, 90-km bike and 21.1-km run race that took the athletes atop of the CCLEX bridge twice.

The centerpiece event also offers World Championship slots to the top 25 male athletes for the Kona, Hawaii, event, with the women seeing action in the 70.3 disputing 15 slots to its version of the global championship slated in Nice, France, in September.