Strange but true

KUALA LUMPUR: The Philippines’ SEA Games women’s indoor hockey team was formed just six months ago and is made up of athletes from different sports.
The players from athletics, football, taekwondo and eight from volleyball had their try-outs only six months ago, practiced hard for four to five hours a day and now are rubbing shoulders against the region’s best players when indoor hockey was hosted for the first time ever in the SEA Games.
The young college students’ determination is high despite starting their campaign with a heavy defeat of 0-14 to Thailand, before being hammered 0-19 by Malaysia at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), yesterday.
For Coach Rivera Leovino, it’s all about learning and gaining experience and exposure from the opponents in the sport, which is totally new to them.
“This is the first experience, exposure and also first SEA Games for them…It is very hard. We only know some basic rules, I had to clarify the technical rules and game’s rules and regulation during the coaches meeting that day because we do not know the rules.
“Most the players are college students below 20 years and only one player is 23 years old. For me, I do not put any expectations this time, but what I told my players was not to stop learning new skills, adapt and improve it,” he told Bernama.
For goalkeeper Yarra Sebastian, 21, competing in SEA Games is all about learning and enjoying the moments, after making a ‘big adjustment’ to transform herself from a volleyball player into a hockey player.
Having played in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) volleyball tournaments, Yarra hopes for a medal in indoor hockey when the Philippines hosts the next SEA Games in 2019, if the event is contested.
“It is good to discover new things actually, to discover our boundaries, experience new things and we love it. We concentrate in every training and then we just enjoy it.
“Hockey and volleyball both need good communication and team work, but the differences are hockey is more dangerous, you have strong and determined teammates,” she said with the hope to be among the great stopper in the region.
Meanwhile, skipper Kristine Elaine Santos set a higher goal, which is to win the gold medal for the host country in the next SEA Games, backing their debut experience in Kuala Lumpur.
“In hockey we need higher endurance and fast reaction, but in volleyball all we need is contact with ball. I just played this game for six months and I am in love with this…I am sure will play better in our home,” she said.
The team will next face Singapore tomorrow before ending their round robin against Indonesia on Thursday.
With only five teams participating, the top two teams will advance to finals while third and fourth-placed team would challenge for bronze medal. — Bernama