THREE teams–two women’s and one men’s –will represent the country in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship and Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The women’s squads Rebisco and Choco Mucho and the men’s team Rebisco were presented to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s board during its sixth virtual board meeting yesterday.
PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara announced the composition of the teams after consultation with Brazilian consultant-coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito and national team coaches Odjie Mamon (women) and Dante Alinsunurin (men) and recommended by National Team Commission chairman Tonyboy Liao.
The Asian Club Championships for men and women, according to Suzara, are the first foreign sortie for the members of the national volleyball teams.
“With these club championships, we are putting in harness the national team program aimed at three major international competitions in 2022,” Suzara said. “These are the Asian Games in Huangzhou, Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and the Asian Senior Women’s Championship that we are hosting in May next year.”
The women’s teams are leaving for Nakhon Ratchasima, host of the 2007 SEA Games, on Sept. 27 in time for the tournament set from October 1 to 7. The men’s squads will leave for Thailand on Oct. 4 for their own tournament scheduled from Oct. 8 to 15.
All three squads are supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Rebisco.
Alinsunurin will be the head coach of the Rebisco men’s team made up of the core of the national squad that clinched an unprecedented silver medal behind Thailand in the Philippines 2019 SEA Games.
Souza de Brito will coach Team Rebisco which will have veteran Aby Maraño, while Odjie Mamon will handle Team Choco Mucho with Iris Tolenada as skipper.
Team Rebisco is composed of team captain John Vic de Guzman, Jessie Lopez, Ysay Marasigan, Rex Intal, Mark Alfafara, Nico Almendras, Kim Malabunga, Ish Polvorosa, Francis Saura, Manuel Sumanguid, Josh Retamar, Jao Umandal, Ricky Marcos and JP Bugaoan.
With Maraño in Team Rebisco are Eya Laure, Jema Galanza, Faith Nisperos, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Mhicaela Belen, Imee Hernandez, Ivy Lacsina, Rhea Dimaculangan, Kamille Cal, Jennifer Nierva and Bernadette Pepito.
Joining Tolenada in Team Choco Mucho are Kalei Mau, MJ Phillips, Tin Tiamzon, Kat Tolentino, Mylene Paat, Kianna Dy, Ria Meneses, Majoy Baron, Dell Palomata, Deanna Wong and Dawn Macandili.