Philippine women’s volleyball team. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The Philippine women’s volleyball team cancelled practice on Monday after several of its members including superstar spiker Alyssa Valdez made a sudden courtesy call on business tycoon and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan.
Valdez is fresh off another V-League championship run where the Pangilinan-owned PLDT outlasted Philippine Army in five sets Sunday.
READ: Alyssa Valdez shrugs off frustration to propel PLDT to first V-League crown
PH volleyball team and PLDT head coach Roger Gorayeb said the courtesy call was originally scheduled for Friday but had to be moved to an earlier date because the Singapore-bound Nationals are leaving on Thursday.
“Hindi kami nag-practice kasi biglaan pinatawag kami ni MVP,” Gorayeb told INQUIRER.net in a text message, referring to Pangilinan.
(“We’re not able to practice because we were called up by MVP.”)
The other members of the PLDT squad who will also represent the country in the Southeast Asian Games are Dennise Lazaro, Gretchel Soltones and Jaja Santiago.
BACKSTORY: In photos: PLDT clinches first V-League title after five-set win over Army
Practice resumes on Tuesday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo.
The country competes in the volleyball event of the SEA Games for the first time in 10 years. CC