Beach volleybelle trains hard for Doha

Diane Pascua, the other half of the women’s tandem that gave the country its first ever beach volleyball medal in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, has vowed to give full concentration on her preparation for the 2006 Doha Asian Games this December.

And if things work out fine, she also promised to work doubly hard for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Pascua, who teamed up with fellow Fil-Am Heidi Ilustre to bag the bronze in the recent SEAG, has taken a break from teaching and coaching jobs at Santa Fe Christian School and the Solana Beach Volley Club in San Diego to focus on her training for the Asiad, according to RP beach volley coach Ottie Camangian.

"Heidi has been forwarding to me all the information you’re sharing with her. Everything sounds so exciting. I have decided to take a leave of absence from my job. I really want to go for this chance at the 2008 Olympics," said Pascua in an e-mail message to Camangian.

Pascua also offered free housing to local national team mainstays seeking to train in the United States.

"Please let me know if I can help in terms of housing some of the players who would like to come and train over here," added Pascua.

Camangian, who is expected to lead the newly formed beach volleyball association that will be under the umbrella of the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association (PAVA), was just impressed of Pascua’s dedication and sacrifice.

"I have to give it to her (Pascua). I told her not to do it but she really wants to concentrate in training for the Asian and Olympic Games. She really wants to play for the country," said Camangian.

Pascua, a Physical Education degree holder, boasts of scoring 1,000 kills at Gonzaga, the sixth Zag to do so. She is also in the top 10 of the school in all-time blocks, digs and aces.

Pascua also plans to compete in every FIVB event if possible.

"I do have some contact information in Australia, as well as a potential coach. We both plan to play in the Asian Games and plan to begin training for that in September when the AVP tour ends. We have been training since our return from the SEA Games," said Pascua.

"Please keep us posted as to how we can help. My teaching job ends in June and we will be touring most of the summer. Hope we can continue to help the beach volleyball federation."