LVPI ‘sorry’ for not inviting Ateneo players, sets special tryouts

Davao national team tryouts. Photo by Marc Reyes

The Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas on Thursday extended its apologies to Ateneo after failing to send invitations to the school’s players regarding the tryouts for the national team pool.

Acting president Peter Cayco said they will hold a special tryout for Lady Eagles Jia Morado, Kat Tolentino, and Maddie Madayag.

Blue Spiker Marck Espejo, the reigning three-time MVP in the UAAP, will also be invited to LVPI’s special tryouts.

“We will arrange another tryout for these four players to give them a chance to display their talent and fight for a slot in the national pool,” said Cayco.

The LVPI released its 25-woman and 21-man pools for the national team on Tuesday with Morado and Espejo missing from the lists.

Madayag and Tolentino were included in the women’s pool after head coach Francis Vicente handpicked the two as potential members of the under-23 team.

Cayco said the failure to extend invitations to Ateneo was a “clerical and administrative error.”

“We were under the impression that these young players were invited through the proper channel,” said Cayco. “It was our fault to which we humbly seek apology and understanding.”

“But it won’t stop us from fulfilling our mission of assembling the strongest team possible.”