Asian Senior Women's Volleyball Championship kicks off today

Jaja, Mika, Alyssa

The quest for glory for the LVPI-Rebisco Philippine women's national team officially begins today at the 19th Asian Senior Women's Volleyball Championship, as they will face off against Hong Kong in the main game at 6pm.

The team is bannered by team captain Mika Reyes, vice captain Aby Marano, Alyssa Valdez, and Jaja Santiago. Francis Vicente leads the coaching staff.

The Philippines is grouped alongside Kazakhstan and Hong Kong in Pool A, while Pool B has China, Japan, and Australia. Pool C contains Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, while Pool D has Thailand, Chinese-Taipei, Iran, and Maldives.

Matches will take place at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna and at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.

Expectations are relatively simple, according to Vicente. Making the top eight and the knockout rounds is the initial goal. He added that the game tomorrow is very important for the Philippines. To harbor those quarterfinal hopes, he says, "we have to win against Hong Kong."

The top eight teams will qualify for the AVC Asian Women's Volleyball Cup, which will take place in Thailand next year.

Coverage of the Asian Seniors will be handled by ABS-CBN Sports, with matches to be shown on S+A, and S+A HD.

The first match of the day between Korea and New Zealand will be shown LIVE on S+A starting at 1230pm. The other matches are going to be delayed, as the 3pm matchup between Thailand and the Maldives will be shown at 11pm, while the nightcap featuring the Philippines against Hong Kong will be shown at 630pm. The Opening Ceremonies that are slated at 530pm will take place at 6pm, or immediately after the PVL semfiinal between Pocari Sweat and Hair Fairy Air Force.

Here is the televised schedule of matches for today:

As for August 10, the China-Japan matchup will be telecast LIVE at 1230pm, with the Kazakhstan-Hong Kong and Thailand-Iran matchups will be telecast starting at 630pm, after the #NCAAOnTour matchup featuring EAC and Lyceum.

For August 11, the Philippines-Kazakhstan and Thailand-Chinese-Taipei match-ups will be shown starting at 630pm after the NCAA games. The Korea-Vietnam matchup that is to take place at 1230pm will be shown on August 12 at the same time.

The second round of classification matches will take place on Sunday, starting at 1230pm. Details pertaining to these matches will be made available once it is available.