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PHILIPPINE Volleyball Federation secretary-general
Rustico Camangian expressed confidence on Thursday that that Fil-Americans
Heidi Ilustre and Diane Pascua can win the beach volleyball gold
medal in the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Ilustra and Pascua, who won the
bronze during the inaugural staging of the sport in the 2005 Manila
SEAG, reached the semifinal round in last year’s Doha Asian Games.
“With the help of our Fil-American
players, I think kayang-kaya natin. Malaki ang chance na makuha
natin ang gold sa darating na SEA Games,” said Camangian, noting
the fourth-place finish of the pair in the Pro Beach Volleyball in
New Zealand in January.
Camangian said Thailand will be
country’s strongest rival but with proper training and more
international exposure, Ilustre and Pascua can match their
opponents’ competitiveness.
“They [Thais] are not
invincible. If we can get enough funding to support the training of
our players for the SEAG, I’m sure we can win the gold,”
Camangian added.
Besides the Illustre and Pascua,
other promising talents in the women’s team are Michelle Laborte
and Cecille Tabuena while Rhovyl Verayo and Parley Tupaz and another
Fil-Am pair of Chad Mowrey and Christian Tuyay are the bright
prospects in the men’s squad.
Beach volleyball is one of the 14
sports, which will benefit from the ambitious program of the
Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee for
the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
--Emil Noguera
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