FILE — Jovelyn Gonzaga. INQUIRER.net SMALL PHOTOS
Army will get a real new look when the new Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season kicks off next month as the Lady Troopers will be led by a new coach Randy Fallorina while they seek new ground with Jovelyn. Gonzaga chose to ignore the event.
Seasoned Gonzaga, easily one of the most enigmatic stars in the league, has told the team she will focus on building the Philippines beach volleyball team for the Southeast Asian Games. in May, a noble act that will surely drive the Women Soldiers out. a formidable short offensive weapon.
Meanwhile, Fallorina will be busy trying to steer the Army out of the doldrums. The Lady Troopers were inconclusive in the Augmentation Conference and not only will Gonzaga be absent but also Ging Balse and Jem Gutierrez, both injured.
“It will be difficult,” Fallorina, 44, told the Filipino-language Inquirer. “I just ask my players to continue to trust each other, even if in reality there will be six second men playing.”
This will be the inaugural congress for the second consecutive season that Gonzaga is absent due to busy playing for the national team. Last year, her preparation brought the country a bronze medal at the Vietnam Sports Festival alongside partner Dij Rodriguez.
The 31-year-old teamed up with Sisi Rondina to dominate the World Tour Futures Professional Beach Volleyball Tournament in Subic last December.
‘Fight it’
“I think the team that has been together for so long is the best weapon we have. [for the PVL],” added Fallorina, who took over for Kungfu Reyes. “It will be their experience that we can use. But you can be sure that we will fight hard in every game.”
The Lady Troopers will now look to Honey Rose Tubino and Jeanette Villareal for most of the scoring time unless the team finds a big signing while the rotation and trade is in progress.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Myla Pablo have left their former teams Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz to sign up elsewhere, even as Ponggay Gaston, who has recently made a few appearances during competition, has left the Choco Mucho camp for join Chery Tiggo.
The Crossovers have also signed Seth Rodriguez and Bingle Landicho to bolster their defence.
Fallorina, who played for The Troop in Spikers’ Turf last year, will also have Audrey Paran, Ivy Perez, Nene Bautista, Lut Malaluan, Angela Nunag and Tin Agno as some of the team holders.
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