Veteran volleyball player Aiza Maizo-Pontillas adds court savvy to a ragtag Philippine team set to compete in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Challenge Cup for Women in Indonesia set to begin Sunday.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation national team commission head Tonyboy Liao said having Maizo-Pontillas, who plays for Petro Gazz in the Premier Volleyball League, will definitely help out in leadership but the contribution of key players will be key.
Maizo-Pontillas joins Bang Pineda, Faith Nisperos, Eli Soyud, Erika Raagas, Michelle Cobb and Ezra Madrigal.
Also tapped to play for the squad are Djanel Cheng, Shaya Adorador of Foton, PLDT’s Jules Samonte and collegiate players AC Miner and Roma Mae Doromal of Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the East duo of Lia Pelaga and Riza Nogales.
“She (Maizo-Pontillas) can be a good leader. She can definitely lead the team but it will all depend on the performance,” Liao told Daily Tribune in a phone conversation.
“The players are new so if they don’t have teamwork, it will be for nothing,” Liao said, sounding realistic with his assessment.
The Philippines will face Macau on 19 June before taking on host country Indonesia on 20 June as the top two teams in Group A will advance to the next round.
