Army coach entrusts Jeanette Villareal to play bigger role minus Jovelyn Gonzaga

Army Jeanette Villareal. Photo PVL

MANILA, Philippines – Jeanette Villareal will fill the big shoes left by Jovelyn Gonzaga as she will be converted from middle blocker to opposite spiker in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference campaign starting February 4.

New Lady Troopers coach Randy Fallorina said the 24-year-old Villareal will have a new position after Gonzaga will skip the season-opening conference for the second year in a row to focus on building her with the Philippine women’s beach volleyball team in the 32nd Asian Games in May.

“Jov’s position is difficult to fill. We considered many players but we decided to turn Villareal into an opposite spiker,” Fallorina told Inquirer Sports in Filipino

The 5-foot-8 middle blocker has been on the front line since he was still playing with Far Eastern University in the UAAP until he turned pro with Army in the PVL.

It will take a lot of adjustment for Villareal, but the 44-year-old coach will be the perfect mentor to guide him as he plays opposite spiker for FEU and Army.

“I know him because being an opposing spiker requires a difficult task. You have to be good at receiving, defending, blocking, and spiking. You have to be an all-around player,” said Fallorina.

But Army Sergeant, who was recently promoted from coach to head coach, sees potential in Villareal. So he was elected to Gonzaga.

“I can see that he’s good. He’s good at blocking and he can spike well. He’s going to be a good spiker,” he said.

Villareal, who is the third leading scorer in Army and Top 34 in the 2022 Reinforced Conference with a total of 45 points built on 32 spikes, 10 blocks, and three aces, will conspire with Honey Royse Tubino to lead the charge for the Lady Troopers. , who are looking to rise from the ashes after a winless season-ending campaign.

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