17 women and 19 men volleyball players have been invited for the national team pool which is set to prepare for the upcoming Phnom Penh SEA Games in May.
The Philippines women’s and men’s national volleyball team have announced their chosen pool of players to represent the country in the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia scheduled from May 5-17, 2023.
Bannering the women’s division is Alyssa Valdez and the championship core of the Creamline Cool Smashers including Premier Volleyball League MVPs Tots Carlos, Jia De Guzman, Ced Domingo, Jema Galanza and Asean Grand Prix's Best Libero Kyla Atienza.
For the men's division, headlining the 19-man pool are Bryan Bagunas from Win Streak volleyball club in Taiwan, along with Cignal star Marck Espejo, Jao Umandal of Cotabato, Vince Mangulabnan, Vince Lorenzo, and Chumason Njigha.
Despite the change in head coach, the PMNVT still has a few holdovers from the previous national squad including Cignal’s JP Bugaoan and Manuel Sumanguid III, Ish Polvorosa and Kim Malabunga of Imus and Kim Dayandante of Cotabato as reported by Sports Inquirer.
Collegiate players were also invited with the likes of National University players Michaelo Buddin, Jann Sumagui, Rwenzmzel Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, and Joseph Bello, De La Salle University hitter Noel Kampton, University of Santo Tomas Jay dela Noche, and D’ Navigators Iloilo star Jade Disquitado.
The 17-women pool is mostly composed of PVL players like PVL Reinforced Conference MVP Mylene Paat of Chery Tiggo, Kat Tolentino and Chery Nunag of Choco Mucho, Kath Arado and Jules Samonte of PLDT, and PVL Best Setter Gel Cayuna of Cignal were also called to suit up for the flag.
After the news of Jaja Santiago acquiring her Japanese citizenship, PVL Best Blockers MJ Phillips of Petro Gazz, Mika Reyes and Dell Palomata of PLDT will be tested to try and fill the spot in the middle.
According to Spin.ph, women’s head coach Jorge Souza revealed that the players in the pool dwindled in number and was forced to add two University of the East players Lia Pelaga and Riza Nogales who are listed as prospect players.
Meanwhile, some sources found out that a total of 14 invited players begged off, including PVL players Ces Molina of Cignal, EJ Laure of Chery Tiggo, and Ivy Lacsina of F2 Logistics, probably due to training conflicts as the PVL All-Filipino Conference is already underway and will begin on Saturday.
Even the young gunners from the National University led by Bella Bellen, Lams Lamina, Alyssa Solomon, and Best Libero Jen Nierva were also invited but begged off as well as Ateneo’s Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, and AC Miner; University of Santo Tomas’ Eya Laure and Dette Pepito, and Adamson’s Lorene Toring and La Salle’s Alleiah Malaluan.
Tags: #volleyball, #nationalteam, #SEAGames