Valdez, Santiago lead PH volleyball nat’l team pool

Philippine women’s volleyball team at the SEA Games in Singapore. Photo by Raffy Lerma

AS expected, the biggest names from the sport all made it to the national volleyball 24-player pool led by veterans Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago and Aby Marano.

Putting premium on height, youth and experience, Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas also added the rising stars from the collegiate leagues including Ateneo’s Maddie Madayag and Kat Tolentino and La Salle’s Kim Kiana Dy.

LVPI officials led by president Joey Romasanta and vice president Pete Cayco announced the national men’s and women’s pools Tuesday in the PSA Forum at Golden Phoenix Hotel.

Also making it to the roster are Kim Fajardo and Dawn Macandili of La Salle, Lourdes Clemente of Perpetual, Denden Lazaro of Cocolife, Geneveve Casugod and Bia General of Generika, Rachel Anne Daquis of Cignal, Maika Ortiz and Dindin Manabat of Foton, Rhea Dimaculangan and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas of Petron;
Roselle Baliton and Kath Arado of University of the East, Ria Meneses of University of Santo Tomas, Alyssa Valdez, Elaine Kasilag and Myla Pablo of V-League, Jovelyn Gonzaga of Cignal and Gretchel Soltones of San Sebastian.

From the pool, the final 12 will be named by first week of May after the members undergo training and road tour across the country.

They will be fielded in this year’s Southeast Asian Games, Asian U23 and Asian Seniors.