ALYSSA SOLOMON : ANG SUSUNOD NA MUKHA NG PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Isa na namang Alyssa ang maging mukha ng women's volleyball sa Pilipinas. Siya si Alyssa Solomon, labing-limang taong gulang at kasalukuyang mag-aaral ng Perpetual Help Binan. Sa taas na 6'2", malaki ang potensyal ni Alyssa na maging pambato ng Pilipinas maging sa international tournaments. Sa nakaraang Palarong Pambansa, pinangunayan niya ang koponan ng CALABARZON sa kampeonato. Si Alyssa ang tinanghal na MVP ng torneo.

Kinapanayam ni Bandera Correspondent Eric Dimzon ang susunod na superstar ng Philippine volleyball. Narito ang kanyang mga pahayag.

1. Paano ka natutong maglaro ng volleyball ?

Yung parents ko po pinu-push po akong mag-volleyball pero ayoko po. Then one day, may pa-tryout sa school namin sa Balibago Elementary School. Ayun po, nagtuluy-tuloy na po dahil nagustihan ko na po.

2. Paano ka napunta sa Perpetual Help ng Binan ?

Yung coach ko po sa Balibago, ka-vlose po yung coach din po sa Perpetua;. Nirekomenda po ako  para maglaro sa Perpetual. Nakuha naman po ako. Grade 7 po ako nang lumipat po ako sa Perpetual Binan. 

3. Paano mo ilalarawan ang experience mo sa nakaraang Palaring Pambansa ?

Masata po kaso mahirap. First time ko po kasi na maglaro sa Palaro. Nakakakaba po.

4. Inaasahan ninyo ba na kayo ang magiging kampeon ?

Si Coach Regine (Diego) po expected niya na kaya po namin mag-champion. Pero kami po, hindi.

5. Ano ang pakiramdam nang mag-kampeon nga kayo?

Sobrang saya po kasi di po namin ini-expect. Umiyak po kami nang manalo kami dahil humabol lang po kami sa game.

6. In-expect mo ba na ikaw ang magiging MVP ?

Hindi po. Hindi po talaga.

7. Anong aral ang natutunan mo sa Palaro ?

Lumaban lang po at wag susuko.

8. Paano nakakatulong sa iyo ang volleyball ?

Yung parents ko po, walang binabayara sa school. Tapos po yung allowance ko po, binibigay ko sa kanila.

9. Nire-recruit ka na ba ng mga Metro Manila schools and universities ngayon ?

Ini-invite po ako. Naguguluhan po ako. Bata pa po ako para mag-desisyon nang matindi at madalian po.

10. Pangarap mo bang maging national player ?

Pangarap ko po yun. Gusto ko po maglaro sa SEA Games, Asian Games at kung sakali po sa Olympics.

11. May gusto ka bang pasalamatan sa tagumpay na inaani mo ngayon ?

Si Coach Regine po. Yung mga teammates ko po. Yung parents ko po. Pati parents po ng teammates ko po na effort po na panoorin kami. At yung Perpetual po.

ALYSSA SOLOMON : THE NEW VOLLEYBALL SUPERSTAR IN THE MAKING

At the last Palarong Pambansa, the girls volleyball team of Calabarzon exceeded expectations by defeating its more fancied opponents to bag the championship. Credit must go to the coach and its sensational rookie Alyssa Solomon. Solomon is only 15 years old but stands 6'2". Her volleyball IQ and skills make her a budding superstar in women's volleyball. Soloman was crowned MVP in the last Palaro.

Know more about her in an interview by yours truly.

ANG TAGUMPAY NI AMIEL KLYDE OBAY

Maraming kuwento ng tagumpay ang nabuo sa nakaraang Palarong Pambansa  na ginanap sa lalawigan ng Antique nitong nakaraang Abril. Isa na rito ang kuwento ni Amiel Klyde Obay ng Laguna. Sa kabila ng kahirapan sa buhay, nakuha pa rin ng Grade 9 na mag-aaral  ng University of Perpetual Help Binan  ang magpursige sa volleyball. Kaya naman, nakuha ng Perpetual Binan  ang kampeonato sa boys volleyball sa 2017 NCAA - South, 2017 Southern Tagalog Calabarzon Athletic Association (STACAA) AT 2017 Palarong Pambansa sa kanyang pangunguna bilang team captain.

Sa isang panayam kay Bandera Correspondent Eric Dimzon, inilahad ni Obay ang kanyang hirap patungo sa tagumpay. Narito ang kanyang mga pahayag.

1. Kailan ka nagsimulang maglaro ng volleyball ?

Obay : Grade 4 po. Sa Dela Paz Elementary School po sa Binan. 

2. Bakit volleyball ang napili mong isport ?

Obau : Actually po, gusto ko lang po tumakas sa klase nuon (tawa). 5 pm po kasi ang labas namin sa klase. Pero kung sasali po sa training sa volleyball, 4 pm ang labas namin. Kaya sumali po ako sa training (tawa).

3. Paano ka napunta sa Perpetual ?

Obay : Ni-recruit po ako. May dual meet po kasi nun at kasali po ang school namin. Naglaro po ako laban sa Perpetual. Nakita po ako ni Coach Edu (Lirio) at kinuha ako sa regional championship game. After the championship game po, kinausap po ako ni Coach Edu  at tinanong kung gusto kong mag-aaral sa Perpetual at maging player. Grinab ko na po yung opportunity. At binigyan po ako ng athletic scholarship.

4. Ano ang naging susi ng tagumpay ng iyong koponan sa Palarong Pambansa ?

Obay : Tingin ko po hardwork. May sistema po kasi ang training sa Perpetual. Talagang sinasagad po kami sa training ni Coach Edu. Hindi po kami pinapabayaan ni coach.

5. Inasahan mo ba na mananalo kayo ng ginto sa Palaro ?

Sa totoo lang po, hindi talaga. Nag-aalangan po kami. Pero alam po namin na may laban po kami. Bago po kami pumunta ng Palaro, nanalo na po kami sa NCAA South at STACAA in historic fashion.

6. Ano ang masabi mo sa experience mo sa Palaro ?

Obay : Nakaka-tense po. Halu-halo po ang emosyon lalo na at ako pa po ang team captain. 

7. Paano kayo ininspire ng mga coaches nyo sa Palaro ?

Obay : Lagi po nila sinasabi na hindi na sila ang magpapanalo sa amin. Desisyon na raw po namin ang manalo. Kaya yun po ang tumatak sa isip namin.

8. Ano ang mahahalagang aral ang natutunan mo sa Palaro ?

Obay : Kailangan pong magtiwala sa mga teammates. Mahalaga po ang disiplina. At Kailangan po buo ang loob para manalo. Wag intindihin ang mga sinasabi ng mga kalaban. At tiwala lang po sa sarili at Diyos.

9. Naiingit ka ba sa ibang players dun sa Palaro ?

Obay : Natutunan po namin sa Perpetual  na hindi namin kailangan ang magagarang  gamit at tirahan para manalo. Kaya hindi po ako nainggit.

10. Paano nakakatulong ang paglalaro ng volleyball sa iyo ?

Obay : Malaki po ang naitutulong ng paglalaro ko ng volleyball. Nakakapag-aral po ako sa Perpetual dahil sa paglalaro ko ng volleyball. Narututo rin po akong makisalamuha sa ibang tao dahil sa volleyball. Sa family ko rin po nakakatulong, Yung allowance ko nakakatulong sa gastusin po sa bahay kahit paano.

11. Supportive ba ang pamilya mo sa paglalaro mo ?

Obay : Supportive po sila. Kaso kulang po talaga sa financial kaya po hindi sila nakakapanuod sa laro ko. Nakikibalita na lang po sila. At yung nanay ko po, may sakit na bronchial asthma kaya di po talaga nakakapunta sa laro namin. Ang tito ko lang po ang sumusuporta sa pamilya namin. Wala na po sa amin si papa. Buti na lang po at nakaalis na po yung kapatid ko nitong nakaraan lang po para magtrabaho po sa Saudi.

12. Sinu-sino ang nais mong pasalamatan sa tagumpay na patuloy na dumarating para sa iyo ?

Obay : Unang-una po si God. Siya po ang may gawa ng lahat. Second po, si Coach Edu po.  Kahit po financially, tinutulungan po ako ni coach. Kahit po siya may pangangailangang pinansyal din, di po siya nagsasawang tumulong sa akin. Sa kanya ko po natutunan na wag sumuko sa mga hirap na pinagdadaanan sa buhay. At kay mama. Hindi po siya nagsasawang sumuporta kahit ganun po kalagayan niya. Salamat po talaga sa kanila.

THE STORY OF TRIUMPH OF AMIEL KLYDE OBAY OF REGION 4A

The video just about tells it all. Region 4A's gold medal finish at the recent Palarong Pambansa is an inspiring story of overcoming great odds to achieve the unimaginable. More specifically, it is the story of Amiel Kylde Obay who dares to meet life's tremendous challenges to triumph magnificently in the end.

The 9th grader Obay of  University of Perpetual Help Binan endured hard practices to become a member and eventually team captain of the UPHSD Boys Volleyball Team. Refusing to get bogged down by poverty and an ailing mother, Obay remains focused in his desire to help his family through volleyball. At present, the future is looking bright for the lean spiker after his sensational performance at the 2017 Palarong Pambansa. Despite her poor health, Obay's mother remains strong with her support to her son's promising volleyball career which pushes Obay to further excel.

At a time when there are no inspiring stories coming from bigger sports celebrities, Obay's story is indeed a welcome development.

Learn more of Obay's story in his interview with an Inquirer-Bandera correspondent.

HAS PVF LEARNED ITS LESSON ?

courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

At the 35th World Congress,  FIVB Honorary President Wei Jizhong cleverly aborted the sure reinstatement of Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) in FIVB. Wei, a close friend of Tats Suzara and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), created a great commotion  that forced FIVB to create an ad hoc committee to consequently junk the votation on the expulsion of PVF and acceptance of Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) to FIVB. The votation would have settled the dispute , once and for all, between LVPI and PVF, with the latter enjoying a favorable result.

Now, FIVB is set to make another crucial decision on the conflict. The ad hoc committee is set to release its findings and recommendations to the FIVB Board of Administration (BA) in a few weeks. It is the FIVB BA that will decide which Philippine federation will finally be recognized by FIVB. The decision is expected to come out on May 6, 2017.

While all things point to a PVF victory, the events at the last World Congress should remind PVF not to be complacent. After all, the FIVB BA is made up of people  who are close to Tats Suzara who is with LVPI. In fact, a number of those in the FIVB BA came to Manila to grace several event of Philippine Superliga (PSL).

PVF must therefore tell FIVB BA, in no uncertain terms, to decide judiciously. PVF cannot afford to lose again in yet another sure-win situation. PVF must be smart enough to know the true parameters of the game, work within its framework and play its cards right to ensure final victory.

PVF AND LVPI : THE RIGHT TO KNOW

courtesy of sports.abs-cbn.com 

It is incumbent on Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) President Edgardo Cantada to present solid proof that his latest pronouncements are true. After all, his statements carry a huge impact not only on PVF and LVPI but on the players, coaches and fans as well.

There are more than 40 players who are currently practicing everyday for the different tournaments that LVPI signified its intention to participate in. These tournaments include the 2017 SEA Games, 2017 Asian Volleyball Championships and 2017 Asian Women's Club Championship.There are 4 coaches who diligently map out plans to bring honor to the country. While I maintain that their loyalties are misplaced, I believe that they deserve to know whether all their efforts will be rendered useless and simply go to waste in the end.  If LVPI is indeed barred from sending teams to international tournaments, the players, coaches and fans need to be informed right now to prevent disappointment and frustration over the unnecessary waste of time and effort.

If the statements of Cantada are indeed true, then Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) can perhaps act accordingly. But PSC must first know the real deal with LVPI before taking any action.

Ang pagmamalasakit sa mga players, coaches at fans and dapat isaalang-alang ni Cantada at ng buong PVF.  Ang pagpapalabas ng katotohanan sa kalagayan ng PVF at LVPI ang gagabay sa mga tao sa tamang desisyon at aksyon. At ito rin ang gagabay maging sa PSC kung ito ay magbabalak man ng tamang hakbang sa gitna ng kaguluhan sa Philippine volleyball. Sa kabuuan, ang patotoo sa mga binitawang salita ni Cantada ang magbibigay ng bahagyang linaw at tamang direksyon sa pamamalakad ng volleyball sa Pilipinas.

COACHES VICENTE AND ACAYLAR MUST RESIGN

courtesy of abs-cbn sports

The presentation of the national pool proved to be a big disaster for Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Incorporated (LVPI). What was originally seen as a shining moment for LVPI turned.into a big nightmare as head coaches of the national pool were caught issuing false statements. Ateneo players spoke to disprove what head coaches Vicente and Acaylar said in a forum attended by sports writers. Thus, the statements of the head coaches were revealed to be false to volleyball fans and general public.

The false statements they conveniently issued should force Vicente and Acaylar to consider resigning from their posts. Their resignations are in order for the following reasons :

1. There was malicious intent to put the Ateneo players in bad light. The statements of Vicente and Acaylar give the impression that Ateneo players did not bother to respond to the invitation to serve the country through the national pool and eventually the national team. The statements likewise portray two of the Ateneo players as lacking in skills, making them unworthy of slots in the national pool.

2. Coaches Vicente and Acaylar desecrated the sanctity of the institution that is the national team and that of being a national player. In their attempt to show that the players were properly and strictly screened, they resorted to making false statements. The two coaches cheapened the national pool and its players with their careless and inaccurate statements.

3. Coaches Vicente and Acaylar have lost the moral ascendancy to coach the team with the loss of trust that their statements generated.

4. The public apology issued by LVPI is not enough to erase the stigma created by the statements of the two coaches on the national pool. In fact, the public apology only added insult to injury as it reduced the huge mistake into a mere "clerical" error. Heads must clearly roll.

Resignations must not only be confined to Vicente and Acaylar. It is to the best interest of Philippine volleyball that Cayco, Romasanta and Suzara tender their resignations from LVPI as well. After all, the three sports officials never said a word as the two coaches issued those false statements in their presence and in front of a crowd. Cayco, Romasanta and Suzara all just went along with the charade as it was happening in front of their faces. They, sadly, all played along with the mockery that was taking place in what should have been a presentation of the best in Philippine volleyball.