Phl spikers eye q’finals in Asian Youth

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine girls youth volleyball team seeks a quarterfinal finish when it vies in the Asian Youth Girls U-17 Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand for the first time in a long while.

Philippine Volleyball Federation secretary-general Otie Camangian said this will be the first time in six years that the youth team is competing in the tournament since finishing 11th in 2008 at the Philsports Arena.

“We placed 11th out of 16 teams. We hope to surpass that considering this will be the first time the PVF will be sending a national squad to an international meet under the leadership of president Karl Chan,” said Camangian.

“We’re looking to make the quarterfinals because we want to maximize the exposure of the team,” he added.

The Philippines is in Pool C along with powerhouse China, India and Australia.  

Coach Jerry Yee said the Filipinas will have their hands full against the Chinese although he expects them to match up well against the Australians and the Indians.

“We’re hoping to be competitive against India and Australia. We want to utilize our speed, because the smaller you are, the quicker a team you should be,” Yee said.

The 14-man youth team roster includes Ezra Gyra Barroga, Rica Diolan, Justine Dorog, Christine Dianne Francisco, Ejiya Laure, Maristela Geen Layug, Kristine Magallanes, Nicole Anne Magsarile, Maria Lina Isabel Molde, Jasmine Nabor, Faith Janine Shirley Nisperos, Roselyn Rosier, Alyssa Marie Teope and Catlin Viray.

Mariano See Diet is the team manager while Chan serves as head of delegation.

Thailand leads Pool A along with Hong Kong and New Zealand, defending champion Japan is in Pool B  with Kazakhstan and Vietnam, while Chinese Taipei, Korea, and Iran are in Pool D.

The top two teams in each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, while those to be eliminated will play in the classification phase.

The top two teams to emerge after the tournament will represent the Asian region to the World Youth Girls U-17 Championship.

“World qualifier ito, pero wala pang venue kung saan lalaruin, although the top two teams will advance to the world championship,” said the PVF secretary-general.