La Salle libero Macandili to play for PHL in SEA Games
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter
THE Philippine women’s volleyball team made a last-minute change in its roster for the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, inserting La Salle libero Dawn Macandili to replace veteran Denden Lazaro in the pivotal position.
Citing the overall welfare of Ms. Lazaro, who suffered a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the Kuala Lumpur Games, coach Francis Vicente said he and his coaching staff made the decision to make a change as they begin their quest in the regional biennial meet.
Ms. Macandili joins the team composed of Aby Maraño, Mika Reyes, Jaja Santiago, Kim Fajardo, Maika Ortiz, Alyssa Valdez, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina, Rhea Dimaculangan, Gen Casugod and Jovelyn Gonzaga.
Former Ateneo Lazaro, meanwhile, goes on the sidelines along with La Salle’s Kim Dy.
Ms. Macandili is coming off an impressive performance in the recent AVC Asian Senior Women’s Championship in Biñan, Laguna, where the Philippines finished at eighth place, being named the 2nd best libero of the tournament.
In the previous edition of the SEA Games in Singapore in 2015, the Philippine women’s volleyball team wound up at fifth place.
The Philippine team begins its campaign later this week.
FILIPINO TANKERS
Meanwhile, Filipino swimmers begin their bid today at the KL Sports City complex in Bukit Jalil.
Fresh from training in Italy, two-time Olympian Jessie Lacuna opens things up for the Filipino tankers at 9:30 a.m. in the heats of the men’s 400-meter freestyle event, where he took a silver in the Singapore SEA Games in 2015.
Also seeing action on opening day are 2014 Nanjing Games Youth Olympic Games veteran Roxanne Yu and up-and-coming Filipino-American (Fil-Am) Nicole Oliva, who are both competing in the 100-meter backstroke heats.
Filipino-Saudi Jasmine Alkhaldi is another swimmer looking to snatch gold after taking six bronze medals — six individual and one relay — in the previous SEA Games.
Considered as the country’s best gold-medal prospect, Fil-Am newcomer James Deiparine hopes to live up to expectations as he competes in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events.
Mr. Deiparine holds the national record of 28.13 seconds and 1:02.00 in the men’s 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke, respectively.
“It is an honor for me to see action in the SEA Games,” said Mr. Deiparine, who traces his roots with a Filipino mother to Angeles City, Pampanga.
On the first day swimming competition in Kuala Lumpur, six gold medals will be up for grabs.
