Nat’l volleybelles joining Asian, World Under-19

A MOTLEY crew of young and energetic spikers will be pooled together early next year to give flesh to a long-term national volleyball team program envisioned by the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc.

LVPI president Joey Romasanta said they would begin forming the girls’ Under-19 squad next month to represent the country in the FIVB World Under-19 and Asian Under-19 Championship both scheduled in July 2016 in Thailand.

The first vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee also encouraged moneyed patrons to support the cause similar to the backing that telecommunications and utilities magnate Manny V. Pangilinan has been providing for the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team program.

“Corporate sponsors are crucial to maintain the team,” said Romasanta, who recently got elected to the 21-member Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Board of Administration.

“We better start forming the team if we want to be really competitive.’’

He also explained the core of the squad would be tapped to compete in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia all the way to the 2019 edition of the biennial meet to be hosted by the Philippines.

LVPI vice president Peter Cayco said they’re actually setting up a tournament to identify the Under-19 players where the training pool for the national team would come from.

Cayco added the corporate backers would bankroll the upkeep of the team, including the monthly allowances for the players to focus their efforts for flag and country.

“The allowances of the players will not be that big, but at least you’re playing for the country,” said Cayco.