These ladies care for each other deeply.
The Philippine women’s national volleyball team (PWNVT) has flown to Japan for its Southeast Asian Games training, and among those making the trip is Bang Pineda of the Akari Chargers. She was a late addition to the team, replacing PVL All-Filipino Conference Best Libero Kath Arado of the PLDT High Speed Hitters, who begged off from national team duties due to a lingering injury.
And on Wednesday night, the two star liberos expressed support for each other on their respective Instagram pages, proving once more that the PVL is actually one big family bonded not only by volleyball, but by that bigger thing called life.
The exchange was fueled by the High Speed Hitters social media team, which posted a photo of Arado's thoughts on pulling out from the national team.
"Gusto ko po talaga maglaro para sa bansa kaso natatakot din ako kasi knee injury ito," Arado was quoted.
Pineda then reposted that on her own Instagram, wishing Arado, the player she replaced in the national team, to “get well soon" and even finished off her well wishes with "Ily" which colloquially stands for "I love you."
Arado returned the favor, responding to Pineda through her own IG story.
"Good luck, ate Bang. Kayang kaya mo 'yan."
Of course, exchanges like this one between Arado and Pineda are relatively common among PVL players, who may be mortal enemies on the court but are mostly good friends off it. And it is certainly adding good vibes to the national team, whose last indoor women’s volleyball medal in SEA Games action came way back in 2005. Pineda and company will try to end the drought come May.