Lady Spikers: academics, injuries reason for Shakey’s V-League tilt

Coming off from a remarkable UAAP championship season, the DLSU Lady Spikers stood still after withdrawing from the invitation to participate in the 9th Shakey’s V-League first conference.

Tending to academics and nursing injuries appear to be the main issues besetting the Lady Spikers in their declining yet another V-League stint.

“Na-invite kami ng Shakey’s V-league pero ang problema kasi nahirapan mag-adjust yung mga bata sa academics, trimester tayo eh,” Lady Spikers’ Head Coach Ramil De Jesus explained. “Pangalawa, makikita mo hanggang ngayon sumasakit ung balikat nila [Michelle] Gumabao, tapos yung ibang players…may mga tinatapos na thesis so talagang hindi nga nakakapag-training. “

The Lady Spikers, who owns three V-league crowns, last graced the tournament in the second conference of the 2007 edition.

Coincidentally, the time duration of the said event covers a mere two months after almost four months of intense UAAP action, which signifies clogging the Lady Spikers’ summer schedule even more.

Coach De Jesus is also concerned about the wear and tear that his squad has borne, and opts to let his players rest this summer, as a part of their recovery period.

Another factor for the Lady Spikers’ decline would be the trade-offs between imports, guest players and the team’s regular line-up. The rotation composed of players for the next season will be compromised to give way for the team’s guest player.

“Guest players and import players are the “stars” of the tournament. V-League, in my opinion, is clearly for entertainment and probably not good for a team that is serious in winning the gold medal,” Lady Spiker setter Mika Esperanza shared.

Coach De Jesus, however, recognized the great exposure that can be earned from the tournament, as well as competing against the top women’s volleyball squad across the country bolstered by seasoned foreign players.

In lieu of the V-League, the team will instead be focusing on physical conditioning, endurance training and muscle toning.

“Lahat ng skills balikan ko muna, kung ano yung nakita kong problema last UAAP. So more on physical conditioning kami, yun nga mga individual skills ng mga bata syempre,” Coach De Jesus explained.

The Taft-based volleybelles are set to compete at shorter tourneys, such as the 2012 National Inter-Collegiate Championship at Baguio City from May 14-19; the Philippine Volleyball Federation National Open; and the Philippine University Games (UNIGAMES), to provide exposure to the incoming rookies.

As of the chances of seeing the Lady Spikers in the premier volleyball league, Coach De Jesus disclosed, “Mayroon naman siguro, siguro ‘pag medyo maayos na yung condition ng mga bata saka ‘yung academics nila ‘pag medyo maluwag na.”