MANILA: For giving honor to the country, the players and coaches of the Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team received PHP200,000 each from Senator Christopher Lawrence Go.
The team bagged bronze in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Challenge Cup after beating Australia, 25-23, 25-15, 25-7, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum on May 29.
Philippine Sports Commissioner Bong Coo and executive director Paolo Tatad and Philippine National Volleyball Federation secretary general Don Caringal joined Go in handing out the checks to the 14 players and nine members of the coaching staff in a simple ceremony at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) conference hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila Wednesday night.
The team also received pairs of shoes and watches.
‘Itong financial support from PSC… ay para makatulong sa kanila. Pero ang importante dito ay ang drive to win. At stake dito ang ating flag, ang ating bayan. Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na (This financial support from PSC… is to help
them. But the important thing here is the drive to win. At stake here is our flag, our country. I always tell them to) give your best,” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, said.
‘Karangalan po ‘yun para sa ating bayan kaya dapat po ma-increase po ang suporta at incentives mula sa gobyerno para sa ating atleta. Maliit na halaga ‘yan kumpara sa kanilang hirap at sa karangalan na dala dala nila habang-buhay para sa ating bayan (That is an honor for our country so the support and incentives from the government for our athletes should be increased. That is a small amount compared to their hard work and the honor they carry for life for our people),” he added.
Last week, Go distributed PHP500,000 each to the athletes going to the Paris Olympics in July.
‘Alam ko hindi rin kayo ang pinakamalaking team pero ‘yung puso ninyo, ‘yung pusong Pinoy nyo, ay lumalaban at ‘yung masarap po diyan ay yung pinagpaguran at pinagpawisan ninyo ang inyong laban (I know you are not the biggest team but your heart, your Fi
lipino heart is fighting, and the good thing about that is that you worked hard and sweat in your fight),” Go said. ‘I am proud of Alas Pilipinas and I will continue to support Philippine sports, especially those in the grassroots.”
Alas Pilipinas is composed of Anne Anjel Canino, Julia Cyrille Coronel, Julia Melissa De Guzman-Morado, Arrah Ella Panique, Thea Allison Gagate, Vanessa Gandler, Ejiya Laure, Dawn Nicole Macandili-Catindig, Jennifer Nierva, Faith Janine Shirley Nisperos, Cherry Rose Nunag, Dell Palomata, Cherry Anne Rondina and Mereophe Sharma.
The members of the coaching staff are Jorge Edson De Brito, Ronwald Kris Dimaculangan, Eduardo Ortega, Grace Gomez, Joyce Antoniette Palad, Justin Santos, Norman Montalvo, Hollie Reyes and Angelica Bautista.
Alas Pilipinas is preparing for the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Challenger Cup which will be held at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, also within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, next week.
Source: Philippines News Agency
