UAAP’s best Canino named to 21-player pool for Asian Games

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY star Angel Canino is feeling a little bit exhilarated getting another opportunity to play for Alas Pilipinas again.

“I’m really grateful and overly blessed that when the lineup went out, I was part of it,” said Ms. Canino during Monday night’s Collegiate Press Corps awards ceremony at the Discovery Suites where she was recognized as the best UAAP volleyball player.

Ms. Canino was one of the 21-player pool recently named by the Philippine Olympic Committee to plunge into action in the Asian Games.

Volleyball is set from Sept. 16 to Oct. 3 in Okazaki and Komaki in Aichi, Japan.

She last played for Alas in the Southeast Asian Games in December last year in Thailand where they finished fourth.

In the last call up, Ms. Canino was one of the many players who begged off from the national team call-up for the AVC Women’s Cup exactly a month ago in Candon, Ilocos Sur where the host squad wound up eight.

But on this chance, Ms. Canino wishes everything turns out well this time.

“But of course, we’re still in the process of preparing. Hopefully everything that will happen when it comes to the Asian Games will align and hopefully we’ll be supportive of one another,” she said.

Ramil de Jesus, Ms. Canino’s coach at La Salle, for his part, is just happy for his ward.

“I’m happy and proud of her because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in the Asian Games,” said the multi-titled mentor.

“It also helps us in our UAAP preparation because being in the national team makes you sharp.” — Joey Villar