Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Two volleyball players from Brazil who will join the Petron Blaze Spikers in a competition abroad arrived in the country Tuesday (September 1).
Erica Adachi, who won for Best Setter in the 2014 Philippine SuperLiga Grand Prix, will be leading Petron in the 2015 Asian Women’s Club Championship in Ha Nam, Vietnam from September 10 to 21.
The Brazilian said she’s thrilled to be back and looks forward to seeing her Filipino teammates again.
“It feels great. I’m really happy to come back here in the Philippines to see my teammates, my coaches, the Petron family and Petron fans,” she said.
This time, Adachi is here with her colleague, outside hitter Rupia Inck, who will also join the team.
“I’m kind of nervous but what I’m looking for is trying to improve my volleyball and make my teammates improve and grow with me,” Inck said.
Adachi and Inck will start practicing with the team tomorrow (September 2) until the day before they leave for Ha Nam.
The competition is fast approaching but Adachi sees no problem in practicing for just a few days with their Filipino counterparts.
“It’s gonna be easier because last year I came here and I didn’t know the volleyball culture and so I know everybody. I know how the coach works and the girls,” she said.
It’s a different case for Inck, who admitted it’s a challenge to adapt to a new team and from a different background at that.
“I can practice and all that. Maybe just get together with everyone because I don’t really know everyone and I don’t know how the game is. Everything is new,” she said. “Whatever comes, I’m ready.”
The two have been practicing even before they arrived in the Philippines.
The biggest challenge for them now is getting rid of jet lag.
“We’ve been preparing ourselves like in Brazil. I think the most challenging thing, it’s gonna be the time difference right now, to adapt,” Adachi said.
“I’m jetlagged right now but I will get used to the time,” Inck said.
The two will join Petron Blaze Spikers’ Aby Maraño, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Rachel Anne Daquis, Frances Molina, Acy Masangkay, Mina Aganon, Mayette Zapanta, Jozza Cabalsa, Ana Marie Del Mundo, Maica Morada, and Fille Cainglet-Cayetano.
The team leaves for Ha Nam, Vietnam on September 10.
Petron Volleyball Team will play against Asia’s powerhouse volleyball teams like Japan, China, Korea, and Iran.
