Spikers, Blu Girls swing into action
wo Philippine women’s teams plunge into action Sunday, start of full-blown action in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The national women’s softball squad starts its bid against Hong Kong at 9 p.m. (Manila time) while the volleyball team tackles favored Thailand at 1:30 p.m. at the Gelora Bung Karno complex.
“We don’t want to match our fourth place finish the last time. We are aiming for a podium finish,” said Blu Girls coach Randy Dizer.
Dizer’s confidence stems from the team’s runner-up finish in the Asian championships in Taiwan behind Asian Games champion Japan.
The Blu Girls beat all their opponents, save for the Japanese who won, 7-0, in the final.
“We have been together for some time so we have a chance of winning medal,” said Blu Girls skipper Chesca Altamonte.
The top team after the single-round, seven-team event will be awarded the gold medal.
Meanwhile, the Philippines makes its return to women’s volleyball after an absence of 36 years.
Against the Thais, the Filipinas face a tough battle.
“We’re very excited to play them because they are the gold standard in Asian volleyball,” said Delos Santos, whose wards are coming off a two-week training in Okayama and Osaka, Japan.
“We improved, yes. But of course, we’re still in the process of developing the chemistry and character of the team. We know it’s not an overnight process, but we need tough competitions like this to develop it.”
The spotlight, however, continues to fall on the fancied men’s basketball squad that is preparing for its match against China on Tuesday.
The Nationals opened their campaign with a 96-59 manhandling of Kazakhstan Thursday.
The Chinese, coming off a dominating performance in the 2018 Stanvkovic Continental Cup in Shenzen, China, will parade two NBA players in 7-1 Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets and 6-7 Ding Yanyuhang of the Dallas Mavericks.
China also boasts of seven-footer Wang Zhelin and five other players standing 6-5 and above.
But there are reports circulating that Ding might not be in tip-top shape after sustaining a knee injury during the pre-Asian Games buildup, according to head coach and former national team member Li Nan.
Still, the Chinese remain not only stratospheric and quick and fluid but vastly-experienced as they faced world powers Croatia and African top team Tunisia last week.
Li refuses to downgrade the other members of the team, saying that every one on the lineup has what it takes to step up to the plate if the need arises.
“Not Ding Yanyuhang, not Zhou Qi, there’s no core player in our team. However, there’s always someone who stands out when the team needs it. That’s what wehave been practicing in recent years,” Li told the Chinese media.
The Philippines is taking part in 35 sports on tap in the event that lasts until Sept. 2 with boxing, jujitsu, sailing, canoe-kayak, cycling (BMX), weighlifting, gymnastics, judo and athletics seen as potential medal producers.
There will be 460 gold medals up for grabs in 45 sports and the Philippines, which fielded 272 athletes, is looking to surpass its measly one gold medal production — courtesy of Fil-Am daredevil Daniel Caluag in BMX – the last time in Incheon in 2014.
The last time Indonesia hosted the Asian Games was in 1962.