Pride and momentum up in Philippines-Indonesia Volley

By: Nelson Beltran (The Philippine Star)

JAKARTA – Alyssa Valdez said it’s a fight for pride more than anything else as SEA Games rivals the Philippines and Indonesia face off tonight in the penultimate playdate of the 18th Asian Games women’s volleyball competition group play at the GBK Tennis Indoor court here.

It’s a virtual non-bearing game since both have booked spots in the quarterfinals with no way of bumping off Thailand and Japan on top places in Pool A.

But the two teams are expected to figure in a fierce battle in their 7 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) match to build some momentum going to the knockout quarterfinals.

And as Valdez insists, it’s for pride.

“Even if we’re assured of the quarterfinals, we would feel good pulling off another win, especially against our longtime rival,” said Valdez.

“Our campaign here would be better if we beat Indonesia. It’s a showdown of SEA Games rivals,” said national coach Shaq delos Santos.

After all, the main purpose of Team Phl’s presence here is to size up neighbors Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam and prepare for the SEA Games in Manila next year.

The Thais, the Indonesians and the Vietnamese finished first, second and third, in that order, in the last SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

“They won the silver coming from another bracket. But seeing their games, I do think we have the better skills,” said Delos Santos, confident of their chance against the Indonesian team built around sisters Amansya Angraini and Aprilia Santini Mangarang.

“We’ll break down the game of the Mangarang sisters. We will work hard to stop them,” said Delos Santos.

Valdez and her teammates are in high spirits following their 25-18, 25-21, 25-22 drubbing of Hong Kong Thursday – the Philippines’ first win in Asiad volleyball in 36 years.

“We’re very happy because it’s a historic win. We sacrificed a lot of things to be here, so we might as well do our best to produce the best result we could get here,” said Valdez, among the lead guns of Team Phl here along with Santiago sisters Jaja and Dindin Manabat, Mika Reyes, Aby Maraño, Mylene Paat and Kianna Kim Dy.

Curiously, the Indonesians took four sets to top Hong Kong, 21-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-14, last Wednesday.

After the decline of the Philippines in SEAG, Indonesia and Vietnam rose as Thailand’s toughest challengers. The Vietnamese were second placers in eight of the last SEAG while the Indonesians collected a silver and five bronze medals in the last six editions of the biennial meet.

The Philippines has never had a podium finish since salvaging a bronze in Manila in 2005.

The Noble Mind and Heart

In times of WikiLeaks releases, truth commission, natural disasters (Cancun?), global  economical problems and (again) dwindling hopes of several people around me, dreaming (not only) of a White Christmas but a better future, I do feel inspire to put the cart before the horse.

Maybe at the end of this piece I'll tread the footsteps of other bloggers, columnists or commentators. So be it!

Pride comes before a fall - but never magnanimity, The dictionary defines magnanimity as in greatness of mind and generosity of heart especially in forgiveness. Often times Filipinos are really a magnanimous people having the quality of being high souled, rising above pettiness or meanness and the generosity in overlooking injury or insult.

The late Harry Emerson Fosdick, a famous Protestant teacher wrote: "No man ever saved anybody, or served any great of left any enduring impress, who was not willing to forget indignities, bear no grudges. The world's saviors have all, in one way and another, loved their enemies and done them good!"

Magnanimity, applied to relations between nations and people, transforms hostility into helpfulness. No "West Berlin inhabitant" (and count me in!) will forget the U.S. airlift during the East German-Russian blockade, when the so-called "raisin bomber planes" kept West-Berlin and its people alive. 

What quality in human character do you consider the most admirable of all? How about the tolerance toward another's viewpoint without smugness? How about refusal to judge another's action or motives without first knowing what lies behind them?

U.S. writer Clarence W. Hall said before: "Magnanimity must be developed and habitual by practice, but it's a virtue that sweetens and glorifies life."

People with a noble mind and heart are fond of day dreams. Of course, fantasies don't have to be a flight away from reality. In fact, psychologists are discovering since long time, that day dreams can play a creative role in self-development and a better mutual understanding. They are also one of the best things for the well being of a family - and a whole nation.