Team captain Maraño, Valdez lead 20-woman national team pool

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc. on Wednesday released its list for the 20-woman pool that will comprise the members for the national team.

Captain Aby Maraño will spearhead a team that consists of Mika Reyes, the former captain in the Southeast Asian Games, Jaja Santiago, Jia Morado, Alyssa Valdez, Rebecca Rivera, CJ Rosario, Mylene Paat, Maika Ortiz, Rhea Dimaculangan, Ces Molina, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Kianna Dy, Cha Cruz, Mary Joy Baron, Dawn Macandili, Kim Fajardo, MJ Phillips, Denden Lazaro, and Myla Pablo.

Both LVPI vice president Peter Cayco and national team head coach Shaq Delos Santos said players were chosen depending on their versatility to play multiple positions.

“We want players who can play not just the position they’re used to but others as well,” said Delos Santos in Filipino Wednesday at Arellano University after the team’s practice.

“The coaches wanted players who can play multiple positions, well except for the liberos Dawn and Denden,” said Cayco in Filipino. “The coaches are choosing players depending on their ability of playing multiple positions because if there’s an injury one player can quickly switch to another position.”

Of the 20, only 14 players will be included in the Asian Games and the AVC Asian Cup, but LVPI president Joey Romasanta said those who will be left out of the final lineup will still be part of the program.