TEAM Palaban and Team Puso lived up to their names and transformed what was billed as an exhibition match for fun, entertainment and charity into a showdown of skills and talent in the Shakey’s V-League All-Star Game at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Sunday night.
Team Palaban won, 25-21, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21, but it wasn’t the sole victor. The losers, Team Puso, shared the accolade for volleyball in general and the victims of Typhoon Lawin, beneficiaries of the event, emerged equally big winners.
Cherry Rondina of University of Santo Tomas (UST) had fun in leading Team Palaban with 13 points and 12 digs, but what made her happier was the support they gave to Typhoon Lawin victims.
“We’re happy because this is our way of helping our fellow Filipinos,” said Rondina, who helped UST finish a decent fourth place in the Reinforced Conference. “As a player, this is a big way for us that we could help the typhoon victims through playing our beloved sport.”
Rondina got ample helped from Amy Ahomiro of BaliPure and Isa Molde of University of the Philippines (UP), who had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Ateneo’s star setter Jia Morado dictated the plays with 36 excellent sets.
Team Palaban—coached by Rommel Abella of Pocari Sweat, Kungfu Reyes of UST and Jerry Yee of UP, also drew the best from Pocari Sweat’s Michele Gumabao, Melissa Gohing, Myla Pablo and Gyzelle Sy as well as current college stars Ria Meneses of UST and Diana Carlos and Marianne Buitre of UP.
Despite the loss, Team Puso’s Alyssa Valdez, who had 12 points, remained grateful of the one-of-a-kind experience playing and having fun in the charity event.
“It’s always great to be united with all the volleyball players to give entertainment to the fans and to help those in need,” said Valdez, a three-time Most Valuable Player who posted a league record 39 points in a single match. “It’s very unfortunate what our countrymen go through so I hope we were able to help them especially now that we’re heading into the Christmas season.”
BaliPure’s Dzi Gervacio; Laoag’s Denden Lazaro, Jema Galanza and Wenneth Eulalio; Air Force’s Wendy Semana and Jocemer Tapic; UST’s EJ Laure; Pocari Sweat’s Elaine Kasilag; Bureau of Customs’ Fenela Emnas; and UP’s Nicole Tiamzon made up Team Puso.
Air Force’s Jasper Jimenez, Customs’s Sherwin Meneses and Laoag’s Nes Pamilar coached Team Puso.
Organizers later hinted at making the event an annual affair.
“This is the league’s way of giving back to society,” said Ricky Palou, president of the organizing Sports Vision.