Jewel Encarnation in the gallery at the PVL Reinforcement Conference. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Thailand transfer Sutadatta Choewlim handed the baton over to rookie Jewel Encarnacion and the young Galleries Tower High Risers after their final PVL game in the 2024 Enhanced Conference at the Fioil Ecooil Center in San Juan City on Tuesday.
Despite going winless in eight games, Choewlim led Galleries Tower’s courageous attitude in every game and set a great example for his younger teammates with his smart attacking and solid floor defense.
The Thai veteran, who came in as a last-minute transfer for Brazilian first-choice Monique Elena, will hang up her volleyball uniform after just her third PVL appearance. Choewlim led Cagayan to a Shakey’s V-League runner-up finish in 2012 and played for the Perlas Spikers in 2019.
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Coaches in the gallery, Lerma Giron, Jewel Encarnacion and Stadata Tulim, #PVL2024 Strengthening meeting. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/BLLCU3Lhza
— Lance Agcaoil (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 20, 2024
“I just want to thank [my] “My teammates, coaches, staff. Everyone was so kind to me. Time was short but I did my best,” Choewlim said after scoring 22 points and making 14 outstanding receptions in a 13-25, 28-26, 22-25, 21-25 loss to Capital 1.
The former Thailand international finished with 125 attempts, four aces and four blocks for a total of 133 points in the tournament, ranking in the top three among receivers and ninth among diggers, and hopefully the High Risers can learn something from her short but productive tenure with the team.
“I think they have great skills and great individual skills, but when we combine and talk and communicate; [good]” she said.
Encarnacion, who had a spectacular game with 19 points and 17 receptions, was emotional after the game because her Thai teammate was very close to her.
“I’m watching [Sutadta]”She’s very smart. Sometimes she didn’t even jump high, but she was able to get a good blocker, sobrang na amaze ako. And I hope that she and her teammates at Makha Dingyun can keep up the KO,” said the Galleries second-round pick. “We are up for the challenge and very motivated to grow and achieve great things.”
A graduate of the University of the Philippines, she vows to apply everything she learned from Chuelim and excel in the All-Filipino Congress.
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“I’m very grateful to coach na makapaglalo for the ako na nabigyan chance at binigyan akong sign na laluing molang yung lalo mo. So there is pressure on my mag delivery but tinatanggalang pressure on my magkamali. Sometimes na na kakamali talaga ako nagkakalon akong naga very grave mistakes and pero, andong yung buong team caught me. Andung sila para kalmahin ako, para angat lalo yung nalalamdaman ko,” Encarnacion said.
“Very generous sila magbigay, don’t praise me if I’m doing a good job, ayung, I’m very happy, na kahit rookie ako, nakapag contribution ako sa team and nakikita ko na nakakabuo na kong players and nakakapaga adjustment na ling ako sa system.
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The Galeriuses, who have third-round pick Julia Coronel in the upcoming tournament, are hoping the games they have nearly won but have yet to win will fuel their players to become even stronger in the longer All-Filipino Conference that begins in November.
“I am a person who believes in improvement. Even if I struggle in training or get criticized by my coaches and teammates, I will do my best to improve my skills. I don’t want to be satisfied with draft night, I want to make history with this team. I know we have really great potential and as you have seen, we have won many five-set matches,” Encarnacion said.
