Valdez SEAG flag-bearer; PH final roster 588

Alyssa Valdez FILE PHOTO

Volleyball star Alyssa Valdez will be the flag-bearer for the Philippine delegation during the 28th Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony in Singapore on June 5.

Chef de mission Julian Camacho announced Wednesday that the Philippine Olympic Committee executive board headed by POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. unanimously voted for the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player to lead the way for the country’s bets during the traditional marchpast.

The POC also finalized the size of the delegation to the competition ending on June 16 to 460 Filipino athletes and 128 officials that will compete in 34 sports after approving the entry of floorball with 20 athletes and four officials whose participation has been requested and whose expenses will be shouldered by the host nation.

Camacho, also the treasurer of the POC, said 12 bowlers and three officials initially included in the PH roster were removed after bowling officials failed to comply with the requirements of the POC.

Camacho explained that the Philippine Bowling Congress had elected a new set of officers and forwarded the list to the International Bowling Federation, the world governing body for the sport, without notifying the POC.

He added that the national bowlers have been tasked to train under the POC until such time that the officials and stakeholders of the sport could get their act together.

“I’m confident that the athletes that we’ve chosen will deliver,” said Camacho, who has projected either a PH finish of fourth or fifth overall.

The Philippines placed seventh among 11 countries in the 2013 Burma (Myanmar) Games.

Valdez will join a select group of previous flag-bearers like Jason Balabal of wrestling (2013 Burma), boxers Rey Saludar (2011 Indonesia) and Annie Albania (2009 Laos) and judoka John Baylon (2007 Thailand).

“I’m grateful to the POC for the recognition,” said the 21-year-old Valdez, who led Ateneo to back-to-back UAAP volleyball championships, in Filipino.
“Happy to be a part of the country’s history in the SEA Games.”

It will be a rebirth of sorts for Philippine volleyball in the 11-nation meet after skipping the Games the past 10 years.