First day of the national team tryouts at Arellano Gym in Legarda. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Alyssa Valdez and a slew of La Salle players were among those who attended the first tryouts of the Philippine women’s national volleyball team on Friday at Arellano Gym in Legarda.
Eighteen of the 34 invitees were present in the first session under new national team head coach Ramil de Jesus.
READ: Ramil de Jesus is new PH women’s volleyball team coach
Former Lady Spikers Aby Maraño, Kim Fajardo, Ara Galang, Cha Cruz, and Melissa Gohing attended, as well as current players Dawn Macandili, Kianna Dy, and Majoy Baron.
Collegiate standouts NU’s Jaja Santiago, UST’s Sisi Rondina, and Adamson’s Mylene Paat were also on hand, together with Jia Morado of Creamline, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Maika Ortiz, and CJ Rosario of Foton, and MJ Phillips and Rebecca Rivera of Sta. Lucia.
Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Maraño did not participate in the drills because of a hand injury, while Rondina and Santiago also begged off due to their scheduled UAAP games on Saturday.
Notable absences in the first tryouts were former captain Mika Reyes, national team mainstay Rachel Anne Daquis, and Lady Eagles Bea de Leon, Jho Maraguinot, and Maddie Madayag.
National team hopefuls. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
FEU’s Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza, NU’s Jasmin Nabor, UE’s Kath Arado, and the UP pair of Isa Molde and Diana Carlos were also not on hand.
The team is preparing for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia in August, as well as the 2018 AVC Asian Women’s Cup in Thailand in September.
Laban Pilipinas! 🏐 pic.twitter.com/I8K5aG25tP
— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) April 13, 2018
LVPI officials introduce Ramil de Jesus as the new Philippine women’s national volleyball team head coach. pic.twitter.com/Yn3WpMOq5b
— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) April 13, 2018