The “Bomberinas” debut: the birth of a new national women’s volleyball team?
It has been eight years since the Philippines sent a women’s (indoor) volleyball team to compete in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games or to any other international tournament for that matter. The last time that happened, the country earned a third straight bronze medal finish in the 2005 Manila SEA Games with roster that included the likes of the Carolino sisters, Maureen Penetrante, Mary Jean Balse and perhaps the best setting triumvirate ever in Joanna Botor, Rubie de Leon and Tina Salak.
However, due to a spate of unfortunate squabbles and many political issues within the ranks of the then federation, the Philippines has only successfully sent representatives in Beach Volleyball but never an indoor squad; despite attempts by many to form a new contingent. Allegedly, there was no support from the necessary groups, no solid commitment from the players and morale was just not there. Of course, these are the “reported allegations” and could be far from the truth or closer to it than many think.
Fast forward to 2013 and the sport now enjoys a rebirth. After a sensational season in college volleyball which television played an enormous part in, the clamor for the creation of a new and vibrant national women’s indoor volleyball team now reaches tremendous heights. Personalities that were once at odds suddenly decide to come together for the new passion of the nation. That’s what this Renaissance in the sport has brought about, but where is the squad?
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The first news about new efforts to revive a national team in women’s volleyball first broke in the middle of February of this year when the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) created a task force to identify potential candidates to be part of this squad.
The task force was headed personally by PVF Secretary-General Vangie de Jesus and from hundreds of names on the radar, the pool was trimmed to 38 of the finest young players in the country. It was an ambitious undertaking as aspirants went through what was referred to as a “10-part selection process” until the final pool was reached. They were named the “Bomberinas” and were slated to see their first action as a team in the 3rd POC-PSC Philippine National Games (PNG).
Today (May 27), the Bomberinas under the banner of Cagayan Valley were finally activated for its initial salvo as the volleyball battles commenced in the PNG.
I was there at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium (NAS) on the invitation of Bomberinas skipper Angeli Tabaquero and when I first walked in to the gym—in the middle of the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC)-Angeles University Foundation (AUF) tiff—I immediately noticed the hulking presence of 6’4” phenom Jaja Santiago and what appeared to be a small group of players running around the bleachers to limber up. Upon closer inspection—sitting beside former Adamson University Head Coach and now PVF Director Minerva Dulce Pante—the maroon clad Bomberinas were indeed getting ready.
“It’s a step in the right direction (for Philippine volleyball),” Pante noted in the vernacular. “It will be a slow process but eventually it (the formation of an official women’s volleyball team) will happen.”
That being said, the Cagayan Valley squad apparently had not yet been anointed by the PVF.
“The mere fact that we’re here shows that something is now happening,” Bomberinas Assistant Coach (and former Far Eastern University head coach) Nes Pamilar explained, also in Tagalog. “It has been a while since even had a team. Things are falling into place.”
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Of the 38 names on that magic list, 15 suited up. Here’s the Cagayan Valley Bomberinas PNG line-up:
#1 Rubie de Leon - UST
#2 Angge Tabaquero (C) – UST
#3 Jheck Dionela (L) - UPHSD
#4 Arianne Argarin – UPHSD
#5 Rose Marie Vargas - FEU
#6 Jaja Santiago - NU
#7 Wenneth Eulalio - FEU
#10 Ivy Perez - NU
#11 Nica Guliman - LPU
#12 Joy Benito – SSC-R
#13 Sandra de los Santos - UPHSD
#14 Michelle Morente (L) – PWU-JASMS HS
#15 Royce Tubino - UPHSD
#16 Din-Din Santiago - NU
#19 Danika Gendrauli - SWU
Head Coach: Sammy Acaylar
Assistant Coaches: Nes Pamilar, Francis Vicente, Brian Esquibel
Anointed or not, the Cagayan Valley Bomberinas easily dispatched the only UAAP team seeing action in the women’s volleyball event, the University of the Philippines by a score of 25-15, 25-11, 25-15. There was some rust noticeable in many instances as the Lady Maroons were able to find gaps in the Bomberinas’ defenses but overall it was a demolition job by the would-be nationals, led by Vargas, Tubino and Jaja.
They next take on the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) on May 28 at 6:00PM and then a squad from San Juan on May 30 at 7:30AM before entering the knockout stages which begin on May 31.
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My impressions on the team are that it has the makings of a solid line-up, several key players in that list of 38 did not see action that will make it interesting to see who actually makes it and that maybe a veteran (other than de Leon) or two might just make the difference when the first set of international sorties arrive.
It’s also quite intriguing that Jen Reyes is not on the list for the liberos and serviceable reliables such as Salak, Balse, the Carolinos and even Rachel Anne Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Suzanne Roces and Nene Bautista are conspicuously absent from the 38 selected.
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Oh well, it’s still a long process and maybe they will find a way or reason to include more names in the pool. It looks like coach Sammy Acaylar will have a tough time forming a team of 14 let alone including more names in the pool.
The bottomline here is the birth of the Bomberinas is now ushering in another chapter in Philippine women’s volleyball and due the upswing of the sport’s popularity, there could be a lot of pressure on the PVF to finally end an eight year drought in the international scene. The Philippines is said to be ranked 139th in the world as far as the distaff category goes. More visibility in multi-nation tournaments could give the country a golden opportunity to redeem itself not only in the eyes its neighbouring nations, but also in the eyes of a new and highly receptive Filipino volleyball fan.
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Who knows? Maybe after the PVF exorcises the ghosts of the country’s immediate past, an FIVB slate might actually show up in the cards—or even just the right to host the 2014 World Qualifiers.
For now, the Bomberinas are indeed a step in the right direction. The PVF is now at the service line—and we wait for that service with very baited breath.
Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate)
