PHILIPPINE national women’s volleyball team mainstay Alyssa Valdez and six others were added yesterday by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation to the training pool for the 31st Southeast Asian Games from May 12 to 23 in Hanoi and neighboring areas.
Aside from the talismanic Valdez, outside hitter Ces Molina, setters Jia Morado and Jasmine Nabor, and libero Kath Arado are making their comeback to the national pool while Casiey Dongallo and Gelai Gajero were also enlisted by coach Odjie Mamon and Brazilian consultant Edson Souza de Brito.
PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara rued the absence of collegiate standouts in the pool.
“The federation approved the recommendation of the national coaching staff for the national pool where we will eventually name the final composition of the teams for the Hanoi SEA Games,” Suzara said.
“It’s unfortunate that our promising young players from the collegiate leagues couldn’t join the pool, and the SEA Games for that matter, because their respective leagues are resuming their competitions before the Hanoi Games,” he added.
With the UAAP women’s volleyball tourney likely to kick off in May, the likes of Ateneo’s Faith Nisperos, Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez and Bernadette Pepito of University of Santo Tomas, and National University’s Kamille Cal, Mhicaela Belen, Ivy Lacsina, Alyssa Solomon, and Jennifer Nierva were scrapped from the pool.
Bannering the pool are Kalei Mau, Kim Dy, Dawn Macandili, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jema Galanza, Deanna Wong, Aby Maraño, Mylene Paat, Iris Tolenada, Ria Meneses, Kat Tolentino, and Dell Palomata.
Six-foot-5 Jaja Santiago, who is proving her worth in Japan as an import for Saitama Ageo Medics in the Japan V.League.
Middle blocker Majoy Baron, MJ Phillips, Tin Tiamzon, Angel Cayuna, and veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan were also dropped from the pool.
