Cagayan Valley beat Smart-Maynilad, 2-0, in the best of three championship series of Shakey's V-League Open Conference to win its first-ever title in the tournament.
I have always been vocal in supporting Cagayan Valley for the simple reason that the people behind the team are selfless. While other teams have been selfish in lending their players to the national team, Cagayan willingly loaned ten of its players, including its head coach. With the gesture, Cagayan defined itself as having a higher purpose than winning the Shakey's V-League title. The gesture likewise showed the purposeful heart of the team. While other teams were simply hell-bent to win honor for their respective companies and institutions, Cagayan was more concerned of winning honor for the country.
Clearly, the experience that the Cagayan players gained from playing in the Asian Senior Women's Championship served Cagayan well. The team was greatly rewarded as the players gained confidence and maturity after playing against China and other Asian countries. Other teams simply failed to realize the advantage that could be gained from international competition.
What I find truly amusing is the fact that no less than Cagayan team manager, Dang Antonio-Pua, was willing to lose the title. She willingly released her players to the national team to allow them to have the rare opportunity of becoming national players. She knew how beneficial it would be for her players to play for the national team to the extent that she was willing to lose in the current tournament. Yet, Cagayan ended as champion nonetheless. It only goes to show that good things happen to those who do good.
Well done indeed, Cagayan.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
QUESTIONS REGARDING A WELL-KEPT SECRET
Something is just not right with a well-kept secret involving female athletes. First, why did the female athletes clam up instead of making noise about the incident ? The female athletes were extremely popular at that time and could have easily gained public sympathy had they filed a complaint. Second, why did the athletes decide to shy away from the national team after the incident ? With their decision, they only deprived themselves of the opportunity to further represent the country in international tournaments. Lastly, why was the incident documented only after a year it happened ? Was the incident being used by certain individuals to further their cause and not mainly to render justice to the female athletes ?
Could it be that the public is missing out on an important and crucial detail about the incident ? Could it be that the incident could be more damaging to the athletes than the perpetrators ?
Could it be that the public is missing out on an important and crucial detail about the incident ? Could it be that the incident could be more damaging to the athletes than the perpetrators ?
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
CAGAYAN VALLEY OR SMART-MAYNILAD : WHICH IS THE BETTER CHOICE ?
Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns and Smart-Maynilad are in the finals of the current conference of Shakey's V-League. Cagayan is up, 1-0, in the best of three championship series.
It certainly surprises me no end that between a team that has loaned its players to the national team and a team which has players that turned down the offer to play for the national team, some fans still choose to go for the team whose players refused to serve the country. Cagayan Valley has loaned ten of its players, including its head coach, to the national team during the recently-concluded Asian Senior Women's Championship. It should be pretty obvious who people should cheer for. Sadly, there are a lot of fantards who are just so starstruck with their idols that they can't seem to make the right choice.
While I do admit that the fantards have the right to choose which team to cheer for, common sense dictates that premium must be placed on the team that has served the country more. And Cagayan Valley is definitely the team which has been selfless in putting the country in the international volleyball scene once again. Truly, Cagayan Valley is the better choice.
It certainly surprises me no end that between a team that has loaned its players to the national team and a team which has players that turned down the offer to play for the national team, some fans still choose to go for the team whose players refused to serve the country. Cagayan Valley has loaned ten of its players, including its head coach, to the national team during the recently-concluded Asian Senior Women's Championship. It should be pretty obvious who people should cheer for. Sadly, there are a lot of fantards who are just so starstruck with their idols that they can't seem to make the right choice.
While I do admit that the fantards have the right to choose which team to cheer for, common sense dictates that premium must be placed on the team that has served the country more. And Cagayan Valley is definitely the team which has been selfless in putting the country in the international volleyball scene once again. Truly, Cagayan Valley is the better choice.
Monday, October 14, 2013
ON BEING A NATIONAL ATHLETE
I have always been so critical of the Azkals. I have always criticized the team for its poor performance in various international tournaments despite the financial resources of the team. And I have always been most vocal with the Azkals' off-the-pitch behavior. Certainly, being linked to rape and sexual harassment allegations are behavior not befitting national athletes.
Being a national athlete carries a big responsibility.. A national athlete is not only expected to do well in competitions. But a national athlete is also expected to be a role model for the youth.
So even in the most unguarded and vulnerable moments, a national athlete must be smart enough to know his or her limit. He or she must not do something that will damage his or her reputation forever. No amount of provocation must make a national athlete do something that he or she may regret later on. No amount of money must make a national athlete compromise his or her values. A national athlete must be made of sterner stuff. A national athlete loses his or her identity and puts on the identity of the people that he or she represents. He or she must always and forever be thinking of representing the country the best possible way.
Being a national athlete carries a big responsibility.. A national athlete is not only expected to do well in competitions. But a national athlete is also expected to be a role model for the youth.
So even in the most unguarded and vulnerable moments, a national athlete must be smart enough to know his or her limit. He or she must not do something that will damage his or her reputation forever. No amount of provocation must make a national athlete do something that he or she may regret later on. No amount of money must make a national athlete compromise his or her values. A national athlete must be made of sterner stuff. A national athlete loses his or her identity and puts on the identity of the people that he or she represents. He or she must always and forever be thinking of representing the country the best possible way.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
A WELL-KEPT SECRET
A 2011 incident involving female athletes remains a well-kept secret to this day.
According to reliable sources, it all started when the female athletes attended a team building seminar in a nearby province together with their coaches and team officials. In one of the sessions, alcoholic beverages were served. As the night progressed, people inevitably got tipsy or outright drunk. Sensing that the female athletes were losing their inhibitions, a team official dared the athletes to striptease. The team official even offered money in exchange for the striptease.
One source revealed that not one of the female athletes called the dare. But the athletes were so taken aback by the incident that they all locked themselves in their rooms for the rest of the team-building days.The female athletes were so shocked and embarassed by the incident that they were never the same again. The team eventually lost all its games in an international tournament. The athletes too never dared to become national athletes again after the incident.
The incident did not reach mainstream media as team officials, coaches and players decided to pretend as if the incident never happened. The coaches and team officials that were a part of the incident remain very much around. The players continue to play in local tournaments.
The great challenge now for the female athletes is to have the courage to talk about the incident to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
According to reliable sources, it all started when the female athletes attended a team building seminar in a nearby province together with their coaches and team officials. In one of the sessions, alcoholic beverages were served. As the night progressed, people inevitably got tipsy or outright drunk. Sensing that the female athletes were losing their inhibitions, a team official dared the athletes to striptease. The team official even offered money in exchange for the striptease.
One source revealed that not one of the female athletes called the dare. But the athletes were so taken aback by the incident that they all locked themselves in their rooms for the rest of the team-building days.The female athletes were so shocked and embarassed by the incident that they were never the same again. The team eventually lost all its games in an international tournament. The athletes too never dared to become national athletes again after the incident.
The incident did not reach mainstream media as team officials, coaches and players decided to pretend as if the incident never happened. The coaches and team officials that were a part of the incident remain very much around. The players continue to play in local tournaments.
The great challenge now for the female athletes is to have the courage to talk about the incident to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
Monday, October 7, 2013
NOW OFFICIAL : POWER PINAYS WILL MISS THE 2013 SEA GAMES
It is now official. Power Pinays will not be included among the 216 Filipino athletes who will be sent to Myanmar for the 2013 SEA Games in December.
Among other things, what served as the last chance for Power Pinays to make the SEA Games was the last letter of appeal from the Philippine Volleyball Federation. Considering that PVF failed to submit entries by number and names to the PSC-POC Task Force, the last letter of appeal should have been truly convincing to merit the attention and consideration of POC and PSC. Sadly, the letter failed to served its purpose.
In the end, what the U23 Azkals had a lot of proved to be inexistent for Power Pinays. Thus, Power Pinays will have to hone their skills elsewhere. Perhaps, in the future, Power Pinays will be deemed worthy to represent the country in just about every international tournament. I truly hope to see the day when the team will not have to rely on letters of appeal just to compete in tournaments abroad.
Among other things, what served as the last chance for Power Pinays to make the SEA Games was the last letter of appeal from the Philippine Volleyball Federation. Considering that PVF failed to submit entries by number and names to the PSC-POC Task Force, the last letter of appeal should have been truly convincing to merit the attention and consideration of POC and PSC. Sadly, the letter failed to served its purpose.
In the end, what the U23 Azkals had a lot of proved to be inexistent for Power Pinays. Thus, Power Pinays will have to hone their skills elsewhere. Perhaps, in the future, Power Pinays will be deemed worthy to represent the country in just about every international tournament. I truly hope to see the day when the team will not have to rely on letters of appeal just to compete in tournaments abroad.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
WILL THE POWER PINAYS GO TO THE 2013 SEA GAMES ?
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| courtesy of rappler.com |
October 10, 2013 will be a crucial day for the Philippine women's volleyball team. On that day, POC will decide, with finality, whether the team will go to the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar this December.
It is truly unfortunate that a PVF leadership crisis happened during the submission of entry by number to the SEAG Task Force. As a result, PVF was not able to submit an entry by number to the task force. Consequently, PVF was not able to submit an entry by number as well. Without the entries by number and names, the Power Pinays, technically, cannot be sent to the regional tournament.
But PSC and POC officials, as well as the task force personnel, gave a favor to the Power Pinays by setting an 8th place finish or higher in the Asian Senoir Women's Championship as criterion for inclusion to the SEA Games. While the Power Pinays, exceeded expectations with their 12th place finish in the tournament, the criterion was not met.
PVF officials Oti Camangian and Dr. Ian Laurel have been busy the past few weeks talking to several personalities on how Power Pinays can make it to the SEA Games. The two have, in fact, submitted two letters of appeals to the proper authorities to exhaust all possible means to have the Power Pinays included in the Philippine delegation.
As things stand now, it is all up to the POC to decide the fate of the Power Pinays. Perhaps, volleyball fans can do their share in helping the Power Pinays make the SEAG by voicing their collective desire to have the team sent to Myanmar. Now is the right time to make noise for the Power Pinays.
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