CEBUANA volleyball legend Grace Antigua will lend her expertise for the national cause after she was named the second assistant coach of the Philippine national women’s team.

Considered to be one of the finest volleyball players the country has ever seen, Antigua helped the Philippines win gold medals in the volleyball competition of the 1981, 1985 and 1987 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Now, she seeks to impart her wisdom and experience upon the players who will represent the country in the upcoming SEA Games in Vietnam.

Antigua will be working with women’s national team head coach Odjie Mamon and first assistant, Tai Bundit.

Antigua was initially selected to be part of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, Inc. national team committee, and was being groomed to be part of the coaching staff of the women’s national beach volleyball team. However, she was surprised when she was offered to be part of the coaching staff of the Philippine national women’s team.

“I was really prepared to get assigned to beach volleyball but then, I was surprised to learn of the offer to be part of the national women’s team coaching staff. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’d like to give it a shot,” said Antigua in a talk with SunStar Cebu.

Antigua relayed that a by-invitation tryout involving 40 players would be conducted next month. From there, a training pool consisting of 25 players would be formed. This team would then prepare inside a bubble setting for several international competitions this year.

Though she’s elated with the news, Antigua admitted to having mixed feelings about the situation especially since she has to leave her family for a while.

“I will be leaving my family amidst the preparations for my son’s wedding so my mind’s really divided about this entire thing,” shared Antigua who added that she also has to talk to the athletics department of the University of San Carlos regarding her position as head coach of the women’s varsity volleyball squad.