Friday, day 13 - team makes history!

As a coach it is always a little demanding when the last days of the tournament the players do not follow the team anymore. When during a day off a couple of half-injured players have an off-day. Blasters, painful legs, back, necks. A breakfast story tells always the truth.

Being on time unfortunately half of the team forgot when we planned a teammeeting just before our departure to the morning training.

We had a good session this morning,used a little more the triangle, but still the passing and posession of the ball is painful. Can hardly believe we wouldn't do better when starting from scratch Monday two weeks ago.

The same ritual, going back by shuttlebus, lunch relax, even time for a 45 minute powernap. Macau China, here we come.

We started very well defensively, we controlled the defence and tried to bring the ball diep into our attack. Unfortunately our first attack had difficulties sticking to the game plan. It is so easy to linger around and play the basketkorf as we did at home. More structure, less chaos and bases on passing.

We made a strong rubpn but after a solid 6-2 we ended the first half with a one-point lead.

Compliments during the break. Girls of Philippines did a great defending job. The guys intercepted almost every first shot. Second half more focus to the structure and build-up of our attack.

The team started the second half wonderful, we extended our lead to a six point lead at 12-6. Then we slowely fell back, maybe the nerves appearred when the first victory in The short history of Philippine korfball started to become reality.

A happy end, we did not give away the 14-12 lead and Saturday August 1, 2015 the team will meet India again to fight for place nr 5. Didn't we play Macau China for the second time as well here in Hsinchu.

Team celebrates and takes an early rest. Another step in korfball!

A day off (day 12)

What to do during a day off, specially if you haven't yet played your biggest game.

Players from the team decided to take it easy, some went to the movies, other went to Taipei to visit some of the amazing sightseeings. A couple just stayed at the hotel and took an extra rest.

I decided to go for a visit to the countryside. Together with our volunteers and the team Indonesia went by train to Neiwan, a small touristic town in the Hills of Hsinchu, appoximately 1 hour traveling.

The town has two streets to buy streetfood and souvenirs, and it has a well known old pedestrian bridge. Actually the gateway to various hiking paths into the mountains.

Whilst taking pictures on the riverside we felt the first raindrops. Most of the teammembers were keen on taking the first train home. Together with one of the Volunteers we started a hike into the deep rainy forest of Chinese Taipei.

After a couple of hours we entered the town agsin. Bought some souvenirs and something to eat end we left by train again, heading to Hsinchu again.

A beautiful day, finally some green after days of concrete.

Players came back and now a good sleep to start making history in the last part of the tournament

Playing China (day 11)

We are closely nearing the end of the tourament. One day before our rest day, we play number one of group B, China. Probably before the tournament many would have tipped Australia on top of this group. But been somewhere closer to the team of China, it is very good to see what development this team has been through. Tall players, sharp shooting and using the full area. Well, that is what the Philippine team encountered on the Wednesday during this tournament.

Being WWF Global tiger day today, some of the players whished to make a surprise today. It wasn't part of the gameplan. Our plan was again to let most of the players take their shots without defending pressure. We should focus on a control, low ball pace and high movement.

Unfortunately we moved again mostly in the direction of the korf. We missed the timing and we were more or less focussed on one person. We used only the first pass to the feed and did not use anthird dimension. We refused to use the passing, the area behind the korf, well actually we forgot mainly all we trained last week. Once we want to be sharp and square at the decisive part of this Asia and Oceania Championships, we should go back to basics. Back to playing around the korf, use our triangle, our passing, moving without the ball only to create a chance....

We started promissing with a halftime score of 18-4. At the end we scored a little bit more, we ended this game with 13 scores and kept China under 35 scores. Once we start to aim for 20+ scores and keep our oponent under 25, we will think about gaining points. Well see what will hapen the rest of the week.

Third game day, Chinese Taipei (day 10)

The days start to get there normal rhytm again. Morning a breakfast, early. Good, good choices but different from the Eurpean one.

Departure at 8.30 am to the sport hall and game venue, just a 10 minute drive.

Arrival, warm up, exercise, shooting, maybe a short line of some tactics, explaining the rules and what that means to the gameplan.

Finish training, shurttle bus, hotel, rest, lunch and than again departure to the hall.

Today the match against Chinese Taipei. Our goal was to fully use the shot clock, get some time when intercepting the ball. Leaving the oponent to shoot without a glance of the defender. 

That finally worked out. We had many attacks, even some interceptions and the end the Taipei players were scorimg aľost 60% of there shots and we had to be afraid of another harsh loss.

In the end we manage to score 13 and conceive less than 50. Our goal was targeted. Players and staff happy and prud. No words from me.

Again back to the hotel, some discussions with the staff. Video analysis with the team and the evening just a walk to explore Hsinchu nightlife again!

Tomorrow we play China to qualify for the World Cup. In 4-5 years this would be the decisive day.

Go Philippines!

Matchday, to show what we are up to (day 8)

Finally, after months of preparation and weeks of training, a couple of days practise with the team and 24 hours of Hsinchu time, Sunday 26 July 2015 the Philippine korfball team played their first match. Oponent Hong Kong, venue Howad Stadium.

Players of course were very exited to be able to show their skills. The staff probably was more focussed on a good result. The warming-up, the team chat, the line-up and of course the referee who started at 3.20 pm local time the maiden game of this young squad.

First attaks were nervously finished by defended shots but once the team lost their final bits of pressure, they started to score.

 It was player number 10 Jae Keenan Yap who scored the first official goal. To be followed by nine more this match. Hopefully the coming years the team will score more and more and focus as well on the defence. hong Kong won the first match on this tournement by 36-10. Captain Jef Denzell Go was top scorer with 5 goals.

Second day of play (day 9)

We start to feel a little bit more stressed today. India arrived and we will play them esrly. Our first loss of calories was during the morning session. We trained to creare more movement without the ball and once receiving always be able to take a shot, maybe the most difficult in korfball but we aim for the highest. We have to improve our passing, get easy on controling the ball while catching, more consiousness on where the korf is positioned once aiming for the shot.

So many actions together while we still are not comfortable with our own defending skills. In theory we know to aim for the ball and give the oponent only difficult shots. But what is theory when you practise this for the first time?

The match versus India started quite well, we had some good shots, were able to intercept but we lacked ability to obtain the ball within the fist two shots.

India had more control and through both long distance shots and running in shots they finally succeeded to score 42. But the scoreboard of the Philippines stopped at a decent 16 goals.

In the evening we had a short chat on the gameplan, tactics and the rest of the tournament schedule. 

A good rest and up to meet the best team of the tournament, the home nation of Taiwan. We just grab a bite with some of the volunteers at the nightmarket to see the country when it is dark.... Well dark, lot's of light and lot's of scooters..

Arrival in Hsinchu (day 7)

A new day and just spending a night at the airport as a teambuilding activity, all sleeping well and 9.00 our hostess Sam welcomed us at the enterence where five small shuttles arrived on time for a 60 km ride to the city of Hsinchu. 

Arrived at the hotel, checked in and had a good teamchat. We got some food, took,a rest and prepared ourselves for the training session.

Getting ready for the match we just wanted players to get used to the court. Some shooting, drills with both moves but also use the various position on both division. Luckily the team from Macau China wanted to play a short pratice match. Twice ten minutes and all players took a chance to show their oncourt skills. We had many shots, rebounds from any place on the court. We are going to focus a little bit more of the quality of our first shot and a more secure passing, but most of all we are going to enjoy.

Adjustments are going to be made in the time schedule, we want to use as much rest as possible, just enjoy it. Together we the staff and the players we had a teammeeting about our goals, focus. Train like it is a match, play the match like it is a training, and we know what we were able to acchieve back home. If you prepare all situations you can expect, we will never be surprised when something hapens. Believe in yourself and try to cross your boundaries. Playing safe and full on control is not going to make a champion out of you.... By playing at the edge, you are going to make mistakes but widen your playground!

We are ready, Sunday we welcome you!