As they should, the guest teams have done a little scouting for their PVL stint.
The two guest teams in the PVL Invitational Conference have begun to show out as Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze and Vietnam’s Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh clashed on Saturday as part of the tournament’s round robin semifinals. It was the Japanese squad who came out on top at the PhilSports Arena, 23-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-11.
Having a chance to watch the other semifinalists during the weekend's quadruple header, Kurashiki mentor Hideo Suzuki and star player Tamaru Asaka named a few local talents who stood out and caught their attention.
For the Japanese coach, Cignal HD Spikers stalwart Rachel Anne Daquis was the first player who came to mind.
“Rachel [from] Cignal, number 3, very maganda,” Suzuki said through an interpreter during the postgame press conference.
When asked to name someone from the Creamline Cool Smashers, which played against Cignal on Saturday, Coach Hideo immediately thought of Tots Carlos.
“Very short cut na [malakas pumalo], Carlos.”
Asaka, who exploded for 29 points in Kurashiki’s four-set triumph over its Vietnamese counterpart, also did a little scouting, and was particularly impressed with Creamline’s energetic middle blocker Risa Sato.
“Sato kasi Japanese siya pero dito siya naglaro, sa tingin ko ang lakas ng loob niya,” the interpreter enunciated Asako's response.
From Cignal, it was again Daquis who impressed the Japanese opposite hitter, not just with the former’s skills, but also because of her ability to multi-task.
“Si Rachel din. Maganda ‘yung nagagawa [niyang maging] volleyball player at model [din],” said Asaka with the help of a translator.
Fittingly, Kurashiki is set to face Daquis and HD Spikers next. The match will take place tomorrow, Monday at 4 p.m.
(GM)