FORMER champions Tchoukball Association of the Philippines (TAP) flew to Thailand last Wednesday for the 5th Southeast Asia Tchoukball Championships 2017 at the Ramkhamhaeng University scheduled November 3 to 5.
Philippine team head coach John Jamelo, who is part of the men’s champion squad that won the title in Vietnam back in 2011, said that though they are quite confident to rule the tournament, they don’t set aside the possible tough challenges from Singapore and Malaysia.
“Both teams have shown huge games during last year’s Philippine Open in Cebu and we are expecting them to play much better in this tournament,” he added.
Jamelo said their stint in Taiwan has helped the team a lot.
“Many of our players have learned lot of experience against the world’s top teams which can help our campaign in Thailand,” he said.
The Philippine squad, which also finished bronze in 2015, will face Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and host-Thailand.
Suiting up in the men’s team are Bacolod-based Benjie Oray, Herbert Aujero, Josiah Su and Judel Roy Lacson, and Manila-hailed Josiah Inigo Yucoco, Marvin Llianza, Mark Narborita, Jesson Dave Paja, and Lee Tomas.
The Corinth Chua-mentored women’s team include Bacolod City-hailed Ivanna Aguilar, Nadine Julia Crisostomo, Ashley Julienne Pedregosa and Jazel de los Reyes, Butuan’s Sheina Clarisse Tagarda and Cebu’s Jayme Lee Moriles.
Heading the delegation is TAP president Raymund Jamelo alongside lawyer Juliana Carbon as team manager and Elvira Jamelo as assistant team manager, with team coordinator Josel Maiko Brasileno and chaplain Jonie Brasileno.