4 Fil-Am spikers to beef up local squads

Four Filipino-Americans will represent the country in the beach volleyball competition of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games next month in Bacolod City that could very well boost the country’s chances of winning a gold medal.

RP team coach Otie Camangian revealed that Heidi Ilustre, Diane Pascua, Chad Mowrey and Justine Schonor have agreed to don the national colors and will plane in on Nov. 20, or a week before the biennial meet unfurls.

"They want to play for the Philippines," said Camangian, who represented the country in indoor volleyball in the early 90s.

"In fact, they’ll be paying their own plane tickets just to get here," he added. "What I promised them though is that we’ll take care of everything when they get here."

Ilustre and Pascua, both 23, are strong contenders for the gold medal because of their vast experience in the US.

So is the pair of Mowrey and Schonnor. Since each nation is allowed to field in a maximum of two teams, the men’s tandem of Rohvyl Verayo and Parley Tupas and the women’s duo of Cecille Tabuena and Michelle Laborte will comprise the other RP teams.

"Honestly, I have never seen them play but based on their past performances, I can say we have a very strong chance of winning a gold medal," said Camangian.

It will be the first time that the country is participating in the event since 1997 and the possibility of snatching the gold from regional powerhouse Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam is not far-fetched.

That can’t be said in indoor volleyball where perennial women’s champion Thailand and men’s gold medalist Indonesia continue to lord it over the field.

Ilustre, who grew up in Carson, California but resides in Honolulu, Hawaii, has raked in $30,258 in last year’s AVP Tour and placed fifth at best twice.

Pascua, for her part, is also an AVP campaigner and currently coaches Santa Fe Christian School and the Solana Beach Volleyball Club. Her best effort came when she was still in Gonzaga, where she became only the sixth player to surpass the 1000-kill plateau.

Like Ilustre, the 6’4" Mowrey, who played for Golden West College, has two fifth place finishes and has earned $19,350 in last year’s AVP Tour.

Schonnor, on the other hand, is not listed in the AVP but Camangian said he is a 6’6" player who is quick and packs power on his spikes.

Both Ilustre and Pascua were born here and have Filipino parents but migrated in the US when they were young while Mowrey and Schonnor have Filipino mothers.