By: Ohmer Bautista
When the Pacific Town-Army Lady Troopers announced their homecoming to the V-League, the first-ever volleyball league in the country, it put the rest of the competition on notice.
Aside from their eye-popping resume in both the then-Shakey’s V-League and the Philippine Super Liga, wherein they amassed seven championships across different conferences, the main reason they’ve been turning heads is their roster.
A roster that boasts of battle-tested veterans that include Jovelyn Gonzaga, Royse Tubino, Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo, Tin Agno, Jeannie Delos Reyes, Nene Bautista to name a few.
Safe to say, they haven’t lost their luster.
“Skill-wise, seasoned players na ‘tong mga ‘to eh.
“In any moment, alam na nila kung paano didiskartehan ang bola. Malakas, mahina… Kung kailangan pumuntos, pupuntos ‘tong mga ‘to,” Army head coach Kungfu Reyes said.
However, in their curtain-raiser last Sunday against the much-younger Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders, an apparent weakness emerged.
And it was not facing a younger opposition; rather, it was fatigue.
Still, the Lady Troopers survived and came home with a win. And for the enlisted Army personnel, they have always been prepared to face such predicament as they will be facing this all conference long.
“’Yun nga, very wholistic ‘yung preparation namin para dito, kasi nasa mid-twenties to thirties na ‘yung age [ng mga players ko] eh,” bared Reyes, citing that most of his players are now in the twilight of their volleyball careers.
“Medyo pa-garahe na kami ng kaunti.”
He also disclosed how they will handle the wear and tear that they will eventually face, especially since one of their ace spikers is just returning from an injury – two-time V-League MVP Gonzaga sustained a right knee injury way back 2017.
As he put it, “So, medyo inimplement na namin na ‘game pero no pain’ ang ginagawa namin para pagdating sa laro, naka-eighty-five, ninety-percent physically prepared.”
As their careers wind down, expect to see the Lady Troopers make a few spirited runs as they seek to reclaim Army’s long-lost glory.
