Canino embraces new role as opposite hitter

Angel Canino (left) TMT PHOTO

THE pressure is always going to be there but Angel Canino would rather find ways to enjoy as she seeks to sustain her fine play as an opposite hitter.

From her original position as an outside spiker, Canino made the switch to opposite for Alas Pilipinas at the AVC Challenge Cup where the national volleybelles clinched a historic bronze medal last May here in Manila.

Canino seized an individual award, too, as she claimed the Best Opposite Hitter in the tournament.

"There will always be pressure on my part, especially when you make some achievements but I always tell myself that I shouldn't be thinking about it," said the La Salle ace.

"What I'm thinking is how I'm going to enjoy the game and give everything I have, especially now we're gonna have it again here in Manila so I wanna show the Filipinos our talents again."

Canino, the UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, is talking about the Volleyball Challenger Cup where the champion qualifies for the Women's Volleyball Nations League next year.

It would be a knockout game right away for the Philippines which faces the Challenge Cup champion Vietnam in the quarterfinals at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on July 5.

The AVC Challenge Cup and the other meets served as the qualifier for this Challenger Cup which also has Argentina, Belgium, Czech Republic, Kenya, Puerto Rico, and Sweden.

The 21-year-old Canino said Alas is going all out for sure.

"You guys can expect us to give our best knowing it's a knockout game right away so there's a big possibility of something we don't know, the ball is round," said Canino.

"But whatever happens, we know in ourselves that we would give it our all and would be proud of ourselves."

NIEL VICTOR C. MASOY