The Philippine National Volleyball Federation has acknowledged it still needs at least four to six players to expand the current lineup of the Philippine national women’s volleyball team.
THE Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) named the pool for the women’s volleyball national team which included the players who attended the tryouts last in the Subic bubble last April 28.
Jaja Santiago leads the pool together with national team mainstays Aby Maraño, Majoy Baron, Mylene Paat, and Eya Laure.
All were part of the squad that competed in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games hosted by Philippines.
Also in the list are Filipino-American setter Iris Tolenada, Dell Palomata, and Ria Meneses and will be joined by collegiate standouts Faith Nisperos, Kamille Cal, Ivy Lacsina, Mhicaela Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Imee Hernandez, liberos Jennifer Nierva and Bernadette Pepito.
“In selecting the members of the pool, we put into strong consideration the athletes’ skills and potentials to improve, and as importantly, their dedication to flag and country, and their visibly innate qualities,” PNVF President Tats Suzara said in a statement.
The inclusion of mainstays like Alyssa Valdez, Jia Morado, Kim Fajardo, Kalei Mau, Rhea Dimaculangan, Myla Pablo and Dawn Macandili is still in question.
The team is looking for an additional setter, outside hitter, libero, and an opposite to complete the pool.
PNVF head Ramon "Tats" Suzara noted that around "four to six" players will still be needed to expand the women's pool to 25 players, which will be determined by head coach Odjie Mamon, together with FIVB Brazilian coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito.
"They will be selected during the start of the PVL and of course, from the previous competitions," Suzara said during a virtual press conference.
"We cannot have another tryout because it's too costly. It's so costly to have another tryout in Subic," he added.
The volleyball teams will start training in June as it is also preparing for the AVC Asian Women's Volleyball Championship, which will likely be hosted by the Philippine in August in a bubble located in Clark, Pampanga and prepare for the 2021 SEA Games set from November 21 to December 2 in Hanoi, Vietnam. (NP)
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