The volleyball champs - in their underwear
With its great teamwork and solid skills, Thailand's female volleyball team doesn't seem to need a lot of luck.
But why take chances when faith is right at hand and might do some good?
Immediately after their upset victory in Nakhon Ratchasima last weekend over World No 3 Japan to become Asia’s champions, the team members walked from the stadium to their hotel. They were making good on a promise that captain Vilawan “Gift” Apinyapong had made to local heroine Suranaree during a visit to her monument before the match. If they won, Gift vowed, the squad would walk all the way “home”.
Such belief give them a boost on court, Gift said when the team appeared on the Channel 3 show “3Zaap”. She also followed a “code of conduct” that had nothing to do with the rules of the sport. It involves a few small decisions, like whether she should put her left foot first or her right when leaving the hotel that day.
Then there was the fortune-teller who proclaimed that she and Pluemjit “Nong” Thinkaow have stars up in heaven that support each other. And Gift insists on always walking ahead of Nong. “Well, only during the tournaments,” she laughed.
Other team members wear underwear in “auspicious” colours during matches, they declared to the giggling hosts and audience. So they all have lucky bras and underpants? The girls nodded and laughed along.
With the team members showing their softer side like this, off the volleyball court, they demonstrate how close they are. It’s no wonder their teamwork is top-notch and they’re able to dethrone former champs like China and Japan.
Siblings in scents
You know it’s a “slow news day” when two top celebrities show up at the same event – and one is only popping in to surprise the other.
That’s what happened this week when actor Mario Maurer was unveiling his “Mario Maurer for Him” perfume. (Yes, you can now smell exactly like Mario, just as you used to go around smelling like Patcharpha “Aum” Chaichue, Araya “Chompoo” Harage and Chermarn “Ploy” Boonyasak.)
Mario seemed surprised when Ploy suddenly appeared with a big bouquet to congratulate him. “I didn’t know she was coming, but I’m so glad to see her!” he said. He guessed that she knew about the event because they’re doing a soap opera together.
Mario also said he’d only just met Ploy, but he gave her a nice birthday present all the same. “Nothing like she’s my special someone – we’re just brother and sister,” he hastily added.
Hopefully Mario appreciates Ploy’s cameo appearance for what it was. She wouldn’t normally show up at any media event playing second fiddle to someone. But there she was, happy to let him hang on to centre stage. That’s some big sister!
