Philippine Daily Inquirer

MARAÑO EXUDES ENERGY FOR MANILA SQUAD

- By Marc Anthony Reyes @marcreyesI­NQ

UST-KAMENOGORS­K, KAZA

KHSTAN— You won’t miss her on the court: She hits hard. Screams even harder. And literally lifts her teammates up after a point. Oh, and the hair clips.

Aby Maraño, benched in the first game, is slowly but surely becoming an integral part of Rebisco PSL Manila competing here in the tough Asian Women’s Club Championsh­ip.

During a heart-to-heart talk with the coaching staff, Maraño shared her thoughts.

“I was thinking (after not being used against Hisamitsu Springs) that once I get to play I will play my heart out,” said Maraño, who went on to score 10 points against Vietin Bank the following day.

Coach Francis Vicente cited the energy Maraño provides. Something the team sorely needed after it absorbed a three-set defeat to Tianjin Bohai Bank.

“That’s how she ( Maraño) generates energy, let’s all have that energy,” said Vicente.

“Let’s not forget why we’re here,” added Maraño. “Let’s show that we deserve to be here.”

The 24-year-old Maraño, however, is undersized for a middle hitter at 5-foot-9, which could play a big factor in the selection of the national team preparing for the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Seniors.

The team is teeming with towering middles like 6-foot Mika Reyes, 6-3 Gen Casugod, 6-2 Lourdes Clemente and 5-10 Maika Ortiz.

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