Alas Pilipinas’ Angel Canino (12) during the AVC Challenge Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino may have played in an unfamiliar position as an opposite spiker in Alas Pilipinas’ historic bronze medal finish in the AVC Challenge Cup but being a “natural killer” made her shine brightly.
“She’s a natural killer,” Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito told reporters. “You can put her in any position and she will [still] do real damage.”
Playing at the opposite didn’t stop Canino from emerging as Alas’ leading scorer throughout the Challenge Cup and earning herself the Best Opposite Spiker of the tournament to cap the country’s first AVC medal in 63 years.
READ: Angel Canino makes her parents and country proud in Alas Pilipinas debut
De Brito said the key to the former UAAP rookie MVP’s stellar play was her determination to play for the country.
“One of the most important aspects is she’s still young, she still has a long way to go in the UAAP. When I brought her inside I told her, look Angel I will try to put you in the opposite. What do you think? [She answered] No problem coach,” the Brazilian coach said.
“[She said] no problem to be the opposite, no problem to be there, no problem to be the first six, no problem to be someone who’s gonna help us in the second six. I’m just here to help. What more can you ask for someone who just wants to join the national team.”
“She had some ups and downs but it’s part of the process. But for now, I’m really happy because she’s really enjoying the time there to grow. She always asks for help even from the other players in practice. You can see it in her eyes that she’s willing [to] try,” he added.
READ: Jia De Guzman, Angel Canino cop AVC Challenge Cup awards
The La Salle ace expressed how honored she was to play for the country and realize her family’s dream to don the national colors, armed with the advice of her father and ex-national team player Rodel.
De Brito is grateful to La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus for allowing Canino and other La Salle players Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel to play for Alas as they also saw action in a friendly in South Korea.
“I’m really thankful because La Salle let her come [and her teammates] especially also coach Ramil,” the Alas coach said. “It’s important that we can help each other if there’s something that we can give back to him, of course, it’s this kind of experience she had here, of course, she’ll bring there (La Salle) to share it with other players and their team. Like the NU players did in the past.”
De Brito has more options now in the opposite as Tots Carlos and Alyssa Solomon join the training pool for the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. But it will still depend on their practice, which started on Wednesday.