By WAYLON GALVEZ
With the possible postponement of the Asian Beach Games in China, the handball coaching staff is looking at holding local tournaments to continue the progress of the sport in the hopes of building a stronger national team for the 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam.
Philippine handball mentor Jana Franquelli talks to members of the men’s national team during one of their practice sessions at The Sands at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. (Waylon Galvez)
Handball national coach Jana Franquelli said they are in the process of conducting events for the men’s and women’s PH teams this month after health issues of the novel coronavirus or Covid-19 either cancelled or postponed various sports events.
“There is no announcement yet regarding the Asian Beach Games this year, but in the event that organizers postpone or cancel it, we’re ready with programs to make sure that there is progress,” said Franquelli.
“The momentum is already there after our podium finish in the last SEA Games, that’s why we need to continue these programs for the sport of handball and for the national team.”
The men’s team finished with a bronze medal in the beach handball competition in the SEA Games held here last December.
According to Franquelli, the Philippine Handball Federation (PHF) has to take advantage of that since Vietnam – host of the biennial meet in 2021 – is seriously considering having both beach and indoor handball events for men’s and women’s categories.
The men’s program will include a local tournament for both beach and indoor events in the hopes of identifying players for the national team.
As for the women’s division, Franquelli said that they have already invited a combined of 25 players of handball and former basketball players from the UAAP to form the national team training pool.
“We’ll have some kind of a tryout, so we’ve invited a total of 25 players to come at The Sands at the Mall of Asia (Pasay City). We actually have a pool, but we want to expand it,” she said.
Franquelli said that another key to sustain the momentum is to keep an active handball club in various schools, like the one she’s heading in UP and in Antipolo with College of St. Benilde.
Another plan, Franquelli said, is to hold invitational tournaments.
“But that depends on the situation with the health issue. We’re thinking of conducting an international invitational event, but if the situation remains the same with the Covid-19, we don’t know if there would be participants,” she said.
“The only sure thing for now is the local tournaments to make sure that we continue. Our target is to have a solid team come the 2021 SEA Games, and maybe for the 2020 Asian Games,” added Franquelli.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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