MANILA, Philippines — Bracing for their upcoming stint in Paris Olympics 2024, Eric Loeppky and Canada have been utilizing their Volleyball Nations League (VNL) stint as a huge preparation while pushing their Final Eight chances. Loeppky led another balanced attack with 21 points off 16 kills, three aces, and two blocks in Canada’s third straight
Tag: focused
PVL aspirants Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel focused on Alas stint
Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel and Alas Pilipinas during a VNL meet and greet at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel politely declined to talk about their entry to the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft as their main focus is representing Alas Pilipinas’ upcoming FIVB Championship Challenger Cup campaign from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Gagate and Coronel, who are among the 47 rookie aspirants, are part of the Alas training pool anew after helping the team earn a historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup last month.
“Tuloy tuloy pa rin po yung training namin. Non-stop kasi ibang level of competition na ito so kailangang tiyagain,” said Gagate, who is the starting middle blocker of the nationals.
READ: Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel lead first PVL rookie draft aspirants
Like the La Salle tandem, National University MVPs Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, who didn’t enter the draft after the June 12 deadline, also respectfully refused to comment about their decision not to go pro in the PVL, choosing to focus with Alas.
Two-time UAAP MVP Belen said she’s slowly improving her jelling with the team, while Solomon still has a check-up on a nagging injury.
Coronel, the backup setter of Jia De Guzman, said the team is preparing well for AVC champion Vietnam, which they will face in a do-or-die game in the Challenger Cup with the winner advancing to the next round against the triumphant squad between Argentina and Czech Republic.
READ: Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon skip PVL Draft, stay with NU Lady Bulldogs
Also vying for the lone VNL spot are Belgium, Sweden, Puerto Rico, and Kenya.
“We already know who we’re going to be up against, which is Vietnam so as early as now we’re already making adjustments in training,” she said.
The Lady Spikers also relished their fan meet before the VNL games on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“Of course, very happy kami na at least sa ganitong paraan, mapapasaya namin yung mga Filipino fans so we hope to meet a lot of them,” Gagate said.
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Amid expectations, Shaina Nitura focused on getting better
Adamson’s Shaina Nitura.–Photo from SGVIL
MANILA, Philippines — Shaina Nitura ended her high school career with another perfect championship run with Adamson in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League.
Expectations are higher for Nitura after capping off her high school career with an unbeaten title run with the Baby Lady Falcons in the UAAP Season 86 girls’ volleyball tournament along with an MVP award before moving up to the collegiate ranks.
All eyes are on her, but the blue-chip rookie chooses to focus on helping the Adamson women’s team, which missed the UAAP Final Four last season.
“I’ll just be who I am. I don’t really care much about what others think because the more I stress over that stuff, the more I think about college coming up, and the more I stress, the worse I play. So, I’m just gonna focus on getting better as time goes on.”
READ: Adamson caps dominant stint with Shakey’s Girls volleyball crown
Nitura is grateful to have high school coach JP Yude, who will continue to guide her at the collegiate level with her graduating teammates Mary Grace Del Moral and Felicity Sagaysay.
“I chose to stick with Adamson and our coach. I’m really lucky because having a coach like him is rare. I can’t really put it into words, but all I know is he’s something else. God works through him to guide us and bring out our true potential.”
Yude praised the winning legacy left by Nitura in the high school ranks but he wants his longtime player to keep her feet on the ground as she continues to scratch the surface of her potential.
“I’m really happy that the Lord gave her that talent, and she’s using it in such a positive way, bringing her teammates along with her with her attitude. Honestly, I’m always encouraging her because her attitude towards the game is something rare.”
“I always remind her that even though she’s achieved that much, she still needs to be humble, she needs to work all the time, not let pride get to her head, she needs to work every time to be a good example to her teammates and to lead them too,” he added.
Yude is elated to have Nitura in time for the Lady Falcons’ rebuild but losing three key players also poses a tough challenge to his high school team.
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“A big loss awaits us in the coming UAAP, but we’ll work hard for it. I know those who will remain will step up even more because their Ate Shai will be leaving,” he said.