Post by wang pu on Jan 8, 2006 16:02:13 GMT -5
www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20060108-9999-m1sc08pascua.html
Santa Fe Christian coach filled with pride after winning bronze in beach volleyball for the Philippines
By Gigi Alford
UNION-TRIBUNE COMMUNITY SPORTS WRITER
January 8, 2006
Standing atop the podium, accepting her bronze medal, beach volleyball player Diane Pascua couldn't believe she'd represented the Philippines in an international multisport event.
Pascua said she had goose bumps when the Filipino flag was raised and the nation's anthem was played as she and partner Heidi Ilustre were recognized for finishing third in the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
In the five-day tournament, the two Filipino-Americans posted a 5-1 record. Their one loss came in the semifinals to a team from Thailand that went on to take the gold.
Pascua and Ilustre were the only volleyball team, indoor or outdoor, to win a medal for the Philippines.
"We packed out the stands," Pascua said.
Falling to Thailand was a huge disappointment for the Filipino team trying to win for its coaches, teammates and fans. In the consolation match, Pascua and Ilustre beat an Indonesian pair for the bronze.
Hosting the SEA Games prompted the Philippines to recruit Filipino-American athletes in an effort to increase the chances of performing well in front of the home crowd.
Officials put a rush on the paperwork so Pascua, 28, whose father's side immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines, could obtain citizenship in time to play by the end of November.
Pascua said some countries were angry she and Ilustre were naturalized in order to compete, and the controversy climaxed with a hearing to argue their eligibility. By the end of the tournament, however, players from all countries were trading uniforms and taking pictures together.
"The spirit of the SEA Games is really friendly and united," Pascua said.
The Southeast Asian countries still took the competition seriously, though. Pascua and Ilustre played against teams that had trained for 10 months, whereas the Filipino-American pair had trained together once when Pascua flew to Hawaii for a weekend in October.
The trip was Pascua's first to the Philippines. Her father, brother and sister also went to see the sights and watch Pascua compete.
Returning to her daily routine at home was difficult for Pascua, a teacher and volleyball coach at Santa Fe Christian in Solana Beach for five years.
"We were so immersed in a different culture there," Pascua said. "We were like celebrities, signing autographs and playing in nationally televised games."
Athletes competing for the Philippines, nearly a quarter of whom were Filipino-Americans, ate most of their meals together. On one occasion they dined with the Filipino president and several times ate with SEA Games sponsors.
"We felt so VIP," Pascua said. "We were constantly on the go."
Since she's been back, Pascua said she's received two fan e-mails.
Pascua's return also allowed her to celebrate with her Santa Fe Christian girls volleyball team. While she was in the Philippines, the Eagles won their second state Division V championship in four straight trips to the final.
"The excitement that I'd had for them over there, then to try to come back and share it with them," Pascua said. "I knew I'd missed something huge."
Success in the SEA Games is the first step toward possibly earning a spot in the 2008 Olympics for Pascua and Ilustre.
"A lot has to be done for us to play in Beijing," Pascua said. "But officials in the Philippines see a lot of promise. Watching us win a bronze helps them see a future for us in the international playing field."
Placing in the SEA Games qualifies the Filipino-Americans to play on the International Federation of Volleyball (FIVB) world tour representing the Philippines. Athletes must compete in FIVB events in order to qualify for the Olympics. Pascua said she'll compete in as many as she can, specifically the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar.
The FIVB world tour begins in April, the same as the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour, in which Pascua also competes.
Pascua said she wouldn't give up the AVP tour because it's more competitive and pays more money, but she acknowledged that playing to represent a country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"It's great knowing now that we have a country that is behind us supporting us," Pascua said. "I never thought that would happen to me."
********************************
So is Ilustre going to represent the Philipines on the FIVB?
Santa Fe Christian coach filled with pride after winning bronze in beach volleyball for the Philippines
By Gigi Alford
UNION-TRIBUNE COMMUNITY SPORTS WRITER
January 8, 2006
Standing atop the podium, accepting her bronze medal, beach volleyball player Diane Pascua couldn't believe she'd represented the Philippines in an international multisport event.
Pascua said she had goose bumps when the Filipino flag was raised and the nation's anthem was played as she and partner Heidi Ilustre were recognized for finishing third in the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
In the five-day tournament, the two Filipino-Americans posted a 5-1 record. Their one loss came in the semifinals to a team from Thailand that went on to take the gold.
Pascua and Ilustre were the only volleyball team, indoor or outdoor, to win a medal for the Philippines.
"We packed out the stands," Pascua said.
Falling to Thailand was a huge disappointment for the Filipino team trying to win for its coaches, teammates and fans. In the consolation match, Pascua and Ilustre beat an Indonesian pair for the bronze.
Hosting the SEA Games prompted the Philippines to recruit Filipino-American athletes in an effort to increase the chances of performing well in front of the home crowd.
Officials put a rush on the paperwork so Pascua, 28, whose father's side immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines, could obtain citizenship in time to play by the end of November.
Pascua said some countries were angry she and Ilustre were naturalized in order to compete, and the controversy climaxed with a hearing to argue their eligibility. By the end of the tournament, however, players from all countries were trading uniforms and taking pictures together.
"The spirit of the SEA Games is really friendly and united," Pascua said.
The Southeast Asian countries still took the competition seriously, though. Pascua and Ilustre played against teams that had trained for 10 months, whereas the Filipino-American pair had trained together once when Pascua flew to Hawaii for a weekend in October.
The trip was Pascua's first to the Philippines. Her father, brother and sister also went to see the sights and watch Pascua compete.
Returning to her daily routine at home was difficult for Pascua, a teacher and volleyball coach at Santa Fe Christian in Solana Beach for five years.
"We were so immersed in a different culture there," Pascua said. "We were like celebrities, signing autographs and playing in nationally televised games."
Athletes competing for the Philippines, nearly a quarter of whom were Filipino-Americans, ate most of their meals together. On one occasion they dined with the Filipino president and several times ate with SEA Games sponsors.
"We felt so VIP," Pascua said. "We were constantly on the go."
Since she's been back, Pascua said she's received two fan e-mails.
Pascua's return also allowed her to celebrate with her Santa Fe Christian girls volleyball team. While she was in the Philippines, the Eagles won their second state Division V championship in four straight trips to the final.
"The excitement that I'd had for them over there, then to try to come back and share it with them," Pascua said. "I knew I'd missed something huge."
Success in the SEA Games is the first step toward possibly earning a spot in the 2008 Olympics for Pascua and Ilustre.
"A lot has to be done for us to play in Beijing," Pascua said. "But officials in the Philippines see a lot of promise. Watching us win a bronze helps them see a future for us in the international playing field."
Placing in the SEA Games qualifies the Filipino-Americans to play on the International Federation of Volleyball (FIVB) world tour representing the Philippines. Athletes must compete in FIVB events in order to qualify for the Olympics. Pascua said she'll compete in as many as she can, specifically the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar.
The FIVB world tour begins in April, the same as the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour, in which Pascua also competes.
Pascua said she wouldn't give up the AVP tour because it's more competitive and pays more money, but she acknowledged that playing to represent a country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"It's great knowing now that we have a country that is behind us supporting us," Pascua said. "I never thought that would happen to me."
********************************
So is Ilustre going to represent the Philipines on the FIVB?