Bomberinas ready for 2013 Asian Volleyball Championship

Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns Coach Ness Pamilar will helm the PHL Bomberinas
at the 2013 Asian Volleyball Championships on September 13-21.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

The Philippine Women's Volleyball Team are set to compete at the 2013 Asian Volleyball Championships in Thailand from September 13-21. With the tournament just a few days away, the Bomberinas have been hard at work for their preparations despite most of the players' tight schedule playing for their respective teams in Season 10 of the Shakey's V-League Open Conference. Plus, the whole team was put up on such short notice.

Given the fact that Pau Soriano and Jheck Dionela are the only players in the roster that have recently competed at an international tournament, they are still a formidable team to be proud of nevertheless. I caught up with Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns and Bomberinas Coach Ness Pamilar for a chat a couple of days ago -- an Air Tsinelas exclusive -- during their team practice at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. He talked about PLDT and Mayor Antonio's support for the Bomberinas, the team's preparations and chances in the tournament -- among other stuff:

I know just how happy you are that the Bomberinas are competing in the Asian Volleyball Tournament.

"Buti na lang meron tayong PLDT at si Mayora Dang Antonio na tumutulong para matuloy at suportahan itong national team."

How was the team put up on such short notice?

"Bali yan din yung members ng Bomberinas – nung unang binuo namin nung last PNG (Philippine National Games). Kaya lang yung iba ngang ininvite medyo nagkaproblema. Ewan ko kung di napayagan yata – so marami paring hindi naisama sa lineup."

The Philippines is grouped with China, Iran and India. It's a no brainer that China is one of the top teams competing in the tournament. Your thoughts on the Bomberinas chances in the whole competition?

"Nasa atin nga yung China kaya medyo mabigat ang laban, siguro pipilitin natin kung ano magagawa don sa Iran at sa India. Pero once na manalo tayo don sa dalawa ron, medyo maganda-ganda ang placing natin don. Medyo parang papasok tayo sa 1-to-8 non – kasi 16 teams lahat yun eh."

What kind of preparations the team does prior to the tournament?

May everyday practice kami pero halos nga karamihan naman kasama ron. Kaya di naman ako masyadong nahihirapan sa teamwork dahil halos buo sila. Dahil halos karamihan non, kasama ko naman sa Team Cagayan.

The Quarter Finals of the Shakey's V-league is just around the corner and most of the Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns are playing for the RP Bomberinas, how will this have any effect on your team's standings in the tournament?

"Pag alis namin ng (September) 10, tapos na yung game namin sa elimination (round). Pagbalik namin, yun yung start ng Quarter Finals. So don na lang kami uli mag-aadjust kung ano magagawa namin."

Going back to the National Team, how ready are they for the tournament?

"Nakukumpleto naman kami lagi tapos maganda ang kondisyon ngayon. Dahil unang-una nga, may nilalaruan tournament dito. Kung baga nakukundisyon ng maganda yung mga players."

Any players in the team you have in mind that will give the Bomberinas some kind of edge in the tournament?

"Si Aiza Maizo, si Angge Tabaquero, si Neth Eulalio plus yung setters naman natin okay naman. Pero kung mas nakuha natin si [Rhea] Dimaculangan, medyo mas malaking setter sya. Mas maganda sana kung nabuo ng ganon eh."

For sure the players are excited to play at the Asian Volleyball Championships.

"Syempre excited kasi unang-una, first time ulit na nabuo yung National Team na Women’s. Sila yung unang-unang batch ulit na maglalaro para ron sa team na yun. Excited naman sila at talaga naman nagtatrabaho ng mabuti para rin maging maganda yung resulta ng laro namin don."

Pau Soriano and Jheck Dionela are perhaps the only ones that have the most recent experience in international competition -- the one with the V-League Selection in Vietnam, right?

"Sa experience sa paglalaro, beterano yung mga kasama natin. Kaya lang sa international tournament, baguhan talaga sila ngayon. Kasi ilang years lang nagkaron ng Women’s National Team 2005 pa. So Masyado ng matagal bago nagkaron ulit. Sa paglalaro naman ang paguusapan locally, eksperyensado silang lahat. Kaya lang, sa international lang sila nag-iimprovise. Syempre ibang level ang international tournament."

On that note, you have any message to the fans/supporters of the players/Bomberinas?

"Sana ipagdasal nila yung team na maging successful pagpunta ron at salamat sa tuloy-tuloy nilang pagsuporta sa team. Gagawin naman namin ang lahat para manalo at maging maganda ang pagbalik namin dito."