Stronger, taller, Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors work on team chemistry

Team manager Eric Ty, Ara Millare, and head coach Rommel Abella.

Stronger, taller, Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors work on team chemistry

by rick olivares

Pocari Sweat enters the Reinforced Conference as a favorite to romp away with its second championship in this 13^th season of the Shakey’s V-League. The power cast has added two solid imports in Breanna Mackie, a six-foot-three outside hitter as well as Andrea Kacsits, a six-foot-four middle blocker.

“Sure on paper we look stronger,” says the Lady Warriors’ head coach Rommel Abella. “But we have a week, two weeks to work on our chemistry.”

Many of the Lady Warriors have day jobs and even with the early arrival of their American reinforcements a month ago, the team hasn’t had a chance to seriously train. “They have prior commitments so it was only last week that we got to train as a full team,” shared Abella.

When the Lady Warriors went to Hong Kong as a reward for coping the Open Conference, Abella asked if he could bring Mackie and Kacsits along. “Chance ito for everyone to bond,” he pointed out. “And I am happy in that regard na nakapag-bond off the court. It is on the court that we need to learn that quickly. Sayang yung time to get everyone on the training court much earlier.”

“There is always pressure to perform. Mas nadagdagan pa after the Open Conference championship. Aside from honing the skills of the girls, we have to teach them to cope and adjust to the pressure.”

Pocari opens its season-ending campaign with a re-match against Philippine Air Force on Wednesday, October 5. And Abella cannot help but be concerned. “We are up against a very good team even if they have no imports. For sure they will be doubly motivated.”

“The challenge is for my team to perform.”