Could have helped

The Philippine women’s national volleyball team set to see action at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games beginning later this month here receive a not-so-good news recently with Filipino-American player Kalei Mau rendered ineligible to play in the biennial regional sporting meet.

Reports have that the outside spiker, who plays for the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the Philippine Superliga, failed to meet the minimum two-year residency for players with the same case as Fil-foreign Mau leading to her being ineligible.

Mau only started playing in the country last year with the United Volleyball Club in the PSL.

Other reports, meanwhile, disclose Mau’s failure to get a release from the United States volleyball federation, wittingly or unwittingly, for the reason she will be unable to play in the SEA Games.

Back in the States, Mau played for the University of Minnesota and University of Arizona in college before taking her game in leagues in Puerto Rico and France.

In place of Mau is veteran volleyball campaigner Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, who like the former plays in the PSL for the Petron Tri-Activ Spikers.

Regardless of the reason for Mau not being able to play in the SEA Games, the fact remains that she is a big loss for a squad angling for a podium finish in the Games after more than a decade.

Mau, with her skills set and physical attributes, could have helped the nationals in their campaign.

The F2 Logistics player has the power and ceiling which would have a boon to the Philippine team, especially with towering Jaja Santiago and sister, Dindin, not available for the Games due to their commitments in the Japanese league.

Mau was envisioned to provide the firepower for the Philippines, alongside Alyssa Valdez and Ces Molina, this is apart from the “fire” she brings to the court every time she takes the court.

Unfortunately such would not happen and the Shaq Delos Santos-coached nationals have to make the necessary adjustments quick as the volleyball competition in the SEA Games is less than a month away.

But all is not lost for the Philippines despite the huge void left by Mau.

The aforementioned Valdez and Molina are still there. They have proven themselves capable of delivering not only in the local leagues but also in the international competitions they have been part of.

We still have enough ceiling with the likes of Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes and Maddie Madayag manning the middle.

Veteran leadership and smarts should not also be a problem as the team could rely for it on Maizo-Pontillas, skipper Aby Marano, setter Rhea Dimaculangan and Jovelyn Gonzaga.

The team also boasts of two of the best liberos in the land in Dawn Macandili and Kath Arado while providing explosiveness and support, be they start or come off the bench, are setter Jia Morado, Eya Laure and Myleen Paat.

While Mau definitely is a big loss to the Philippines for the SEA Games, there is still work to be done and we have to move on. It is what it is and there is no sense in thinking too much of the what-could-have-beens and should-have-beens.

All the best to the Philippine national women’s volleyball team for the SEA Games. And to Mau, looking forward to seeing you don the national colors in future international competitions.

POSTSCRIPT. The Philippines will compete against three other teams/nations, namely Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam in the 2019 SEA Games. The teams will play in a single elimination round with the top two teams advancing to the championship match. The Philippines won a bronze medal in women’s volleyball when the country last hosted the Games in 2005.