LVPI mum on Phl Asiad volley chances

The Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. is not raising false hopes on the country’s participation in women’s volleyball of the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.

Peter Cayco, LVPI vice president, said a reporter asked him about the medal chances of the Philippine team in this year’s Asian Games.

“Did we mention anything about winning a medal?” was Cayco’s reply.

Winning a medal of any color in Asian Games women’s volleyball is like winning the lottery. Chances are very slim if not close to none.

“A few years ago, the LVPI dreamed of making it back to the Asian Games. We’re back in the Asian Games,” Cayco said.

The last time the Philippines fielded a women’s team in the Asiad was in 1982, when Lydia de Vega, only 17 years old then, was crowned Asia’s Fastest Woman. It’s been 36 long years since. Training has begun. In August, the team will undergo a 12-day training in Japan, in time for their departure for Indonesia two days before the Aug. 18 opener.

The Philippines will play its first game on Aug. 19.

Cayco is not at all worried with the draw, saying he’d rather be bracketed with the best teams, led by China, winner in seven of the last nine Asian Games, South Korea, the defending champion, and Japan, a perennial podium finisher.

“I don’t care about the draw. Give us China for our first game. If possible, give us South Korea and Japan, too. We’ll take it,” said Cayco. “We will be there to compete,” he added. No mention of any medals.