Arah Panique’s impressive performance in Alas Pilipinas’ AVC Challenge Cup for Women semifinals defeat to Kazakhstan on Tuesday night did not come as a surprise to head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito.
According to the Brazilian mentor, he already knew that the Bacolod City native had potential after seeing her in her limited playing time with the National University Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
“She was not a surprise for me; the guys who are watching the UAAP know that she has the potential and she is not under pressure to play in any kind of competition,” De Brito said.
“She is really comfortable; of course she is good; she’s young; she commits mistakes, but that happens when she goes inside,” she added. “I am really proud of her; she does not hesitate to do things inside.”
Alas Pilipinas team captain Julia Morado-de Guzman, for her part, also lauded Panique for providing the energy when they were down 22-12 in the first set against the taller and more experienced Kazakhstan.
“Si Arah sobrang ganda nung pasok niya against Kazakhstan, she added din sa offense namin, and she is so energetic… eager to play while kaming nasa loob natataranta kami,” Morado-de Guzman said.
“Ang ganda lang din kasi ang lalim ng bench namin and kakailanganin namin ‘yun when we face Australia (for the bronze medal) on Wednesday,” added the Denso Airybees setter.
Panique, who rarely saw action for Alas Pilipinas in the group stage, finished with a team-high of 14 points in the Philippine team’s defeat to Kazakhstan.
The post De Brito not surprised by Arah Panique’s impressive performance first appeared on Fastbreak.
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