BY ABBY TORALBA
THE Philippine national women’s volleyball team kicks off its drive when it battles Thailand today in the 2nd Asean Grand Prix at the Chartchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The match is set at 7 p.m.
Team captain Jia De Guzman, Diana Mae Carlos, Jema Galanza, Celine Domingo, Michele Gumabao, Jeanette Panaga and Kyla Atienza will spearhead Team Philippines under coach Sherwin Meneses.
Completing the team are Rose Vargas, Rizza Mandapat, Kyle Negrito, Fille Cayetano, Pau Soriano, Ella De Jesus and Risa Sato.
Star spiker Alyssa Valdez joined the national team in their flight to Thailand last Wednesday but is unlikely to suit up as she is still recovering from dengue.
The Asean Grand Prix was first held in 2019, with the Philippines bagging the bronze medal in the Nakhon Ratchasima and Santa Rosa editions of the tilt.
After its showdown against Thailand, the National crew will next take on Vietnam on tomorrow and Indonesia on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Philippine national women’s beach volleyball team will also compete in Thailand in the AVC Asian Beach Tour Roi-et Open tomorrow until Monday and inthe AVC Senior Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship from Sept. 14 to 17.
The duo of Cherry Ann Rondina and Bernadeth Pons and the pair of Dij Rodriguez and Gen Eslapor, with Paul Jan Doloiras serving as coach, will tackle teams from host Thailand, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Vanuatu and Vietnam in the Roi-et Open.
The Philippine pairs will clash with Thailand, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Vanuatu, and Vietnam in the AVC Senior Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship.
The tournaments will be the first international competition for Rondina, Pons, and Rodriguez since taking home the bronze medal, with Jovelyn Gonzaga, in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May.
