MANILA – The first step in honing the national volleyball teams for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi will be right at the end of the month as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) sets up a tryout bubble in Subic.
The PNVF has extended an invite to 60 men and 60 women for the national seniors teams tryout even as they also called up some youngsters for the juniors beach volleyball teams.
As anticipated, Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez headlines those invited for the outside hitter spot.
Also given a chance to try out are PetroGazz’s Myla Pablo and Ces Molina, F2’s Kalei Mau, and Choco Mucho’s Kat Tolentino.
The PNVF also brought in some collegiate players in National University’s (NU) Ivy Lacsina and Michaela Belen, Ateneo’s Faith Nisperos, and La Salle’s Angel Canino.
The tryout for the setter spot also has a stacked cast in Rhea Dimaculangan (PLDT), Kim Fajardo (F2 Logistics), Alohi Robins (Cignal HD), Jia Morado (Creamline), and Jasmine Nabor (Chery Tiggo) with NU’s Kamille Cal as the lone college setter invited.
Meanwhile, three Chery Tiggo players will vie for opposite hitter spots in Mylene Paat, Dindin Manabat, and Eya Laure.
Joining them are Army’s Jovelyn Gonzaga, Sta. Lucia’s MJ Philips, F2’s Kim Dy, NU’s Alyssa Solomon, and La Salle’s Alleliah Malaluan.
On the other hand, six-foot-five Jaja Santiago, fresh from winning the Japanese league title for Ageo Medics, is among the big names invited for the middle blocker spots.
Also in the running are F2’s Aby Marano and Majoy Baron, Choco Mucho’s Bea De Leon and Maddie Madayag, Creamline’s Risa Sato, Air Force’s Dell Palomata, PLDT’s Marist Layug, and college players Imee Hernandez (University of Santo Tomas), Thea Gagate (La Salle), and Lorene Toring (Adamson).
Choco Mucho’s Denden Lazaro, F2’s Dawn Macandili, and PetroGazz’s Kath Arado, arguably the three best liberos to play the game in recent years, were invited as well to the tryouts.
Also vying for the libero spots are NU’s Jennifer Nierva and UST’s Bernadette Pepito.
On the other hand, Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, two of the top male spikers right now, lead the cast of outside hitters invited for the men’s team tryouts.
Also given invites were Mark Alfafara (PLDT), Dan Aldrin Garnica (USPF), Alden Dave Cabaron (SWU), John Ashley Jacob (University of Mindanao-Davao), Nico Almendras (NU/Sta. Elena), Noel Kampton (DLSU), Leo Aringo (NU), Louie Ramirez (Perpetual), Alche Gupiteo (UST), Jian Matthew Salarzon (Bacolod), and Jomar Candelario (UB).
PLDT’s John Vic De Guzman headlines the invites for the opposite hitter spots along with Ysay Marasigan (Cignal), Mark Enciso (IEM), Joeven dela Vega (Navy), Jao Umandal (PLDT), Banjo Mondero (NU/Sta. Elena), John Mark Ronquillo (DLSU), Leodie Vitente (SLU).
Four men will vie for the setter spots in Jessie Lopez (Air Force), Kim Dayadante (Go for Gold), Ish Polvorosa (Cignal), and Josh Retamar (NU/Sta. Elena).
Meanwhile, three liberos, Jack Kalingking (Navy), Ricky Marcos (Go for Gold), and Manuel Sumanguid (Cignal), are also invited to the tryouts.
The tryouts for the indoor volleyball teams will happen from April 28-29 at the Subic Bay Gymnasium with Coaches Odjie Mamon and Dante Alinsunurin supervising the tryouts.
Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, who scored a bronze medal in the 2019 SEA Games, got invites again to the Philippine beach volleyball team for the 2021 SEA Games.
The other female spikers are Dij Rodriguez (Creamline), Dzi Gervacio (Creamline), Alexa Polidario (Abanse Negrense), Babylove Barbon (UST), Jackie Estoquia (Sta. Lucia), Milena Alessandrini (UST), DM Demontaño (Sta. Lucia), Princess Robles (NU), Honey Grace Cabansay (UST), Jennifer Cosas (Abanse Negrense), Jovelyn Gonzaga (Army), Jozza Cabalsa (Air Force), Mylene Paat (Chery Tiggo), Jannine Navarro (Chery Tiggo), Tin Tiamzon (F2 Logistics), Javen Sabas (PUP), Gen Eslapor (UST), Mer Jauculan (UST).
The male spikers invited for the beach volleyball team are Jude Garcia (Creamline), Jaron Requinton (Creamline), Anthony Arbasto (Creamline), Edwin Tolentino (Air Force), Ranran Abdilla (Creamline), Ronald Umang-it (Mapua), Joven Camaganakan (IEM), AJ Pareja (Creamline), Jade Becaldo (Cebu), Calvin Sarte (Davao), James Pecaña (PLDT), Jason Uy (Army), Greg Dolor (Navy), Philip Bagalay (Creamline), KR Guzman (General Santos), Joshua Miña (EAC), Reuben Inaudito (Air Force), Kurl Rosete (Navy), James Buytrago (Creamline).
The ones trying out for the girl’s beach volleyball team are Justine Jazareno, Roma Mae Doromal, Kathrina Epa, Kizil Doren, Grydelle Joanice Matibag, Althea Marie Bacalanos, Maria Megan Gumban, Samantha Maranan.
For the boy’s side, the invited players are Pol Salvador, Rancel Varga, Dominique Gabito, Alexander Cabatuan, Jefter Guerrero, Efraem Dimaculangan, Amil Pacinio, Mar Angelo de Lara, Jay Rack Dela Noche, Eugene Gloria.
The beach volleyball tryout is set on April 30 at the Subic Bay with Paul Doloiras and Rhovyl Verayo overseeing it. (PNA)
