'PSL, PVL should unite for PH team,' says Dawn Macandili

August 29 ------ Philippine team standout Dawn Macandili called for unity among local volleyball leagues for the betterment of the women’s national team program.The 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix Best Libero said it’s high time for the Philippine Superliga (PSL) and Premier Volleyball League (PVL) to join hands for the benefit of the women’s national team.“[Sana] magbibigay ng leeway yung both leagues to actually to let the national team develop and grow,” Macandili said in the online webshow Volleyball DNA.“Kailangan talaga ng solid plan wherein everyone around will agree to, so parang kailangan magcompromise lahat kasi I know naman na lahat talaga maaffect eh like yung schedule, yung liga.” she added.

Out of the 14-woman lineup that competed in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, 3 players play exclusively in the PVL while 9 come from PSL.Despite an extensive two-week training camp in Japan in a bid to end a long medal-drought in the international stage, the women’s team ended up winless in the 30th SEA Games. The lack of long-term training program and preparations for the national team was a hurdle to restore the Philippines as an ASEAN powerhouse, who last placed a podium in the 2005 SEA Games.

For the prized libero, the unification should start from the top league officials. “If we really want to develop our Philippine national team for women’s volleyball, kailangan talaga magcompromise lahat and that's gonna start from the top of the top kasi sila naman talaga yung may hawak ng decisions na yan,” she said. Since late 2019, the PSL and PVL have been in discussions of a potential Unity Cup. The talks of the unified tournament, though, has been hampered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: rappler.com/sports