Vicente, Valdez reunite as Davao leg of national tryouts kicks off

DAVAO CITY—It will be a reunion of sorts between Alyssa Valdez and Francis Vicente when the national volleyball team tryouts holds its final leg here Saturday.

Vicente and Valdez were part of the University of Santo Tomas girls’ team that won the UAAP juniors volleyball championship from 2008 to 2010.

“We go back a long way, and she knows that she’s not dealing with a stranger but an old friend and coach,” said Vicente, who will spearhead the tryouts at University of Southeastern Philippines here.

Vicente, who has conducted tryouts in Manila and Cebu, had earlier said he’s “still waiting for somebody” to arrive to form his own “dream team,” apparently alluding to the popular Valdez.

Vicente said he’s eyeing tall players in an attempt to build a high-ceilinged squad for several international meets, including the Southeast Asian Games.

Leading the tryouts here are Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. top officials Joey Romasanta and acting president Pete Cayco.

Cayco, who is tasked to form the national squads, said a big part of the 16-player pool will be young, untested players, and their provincial sorties are aimed at discovering new talents.

Vicente will oversee the women’s team tryouts Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., while Sammy Acaylar will take care of the men’s auditions on same days from 8 to 11 a.m

The 23-year-old Valdez will arrive in Manila at 5 a.m. Saturday before taking a one-hour flight to this city at 7 a.m.

Valdez and the other aspirants will undergo a battery of examinations, including physical, psychological and physiological tests.

Davao has chipped in its share of talents, like Ateneo stars Maddie Maddayag and Mae Tajima as well as Petron’s Mayette Zapanta and former Cignal player Mary Grace Berte.