Valdez, Mau spearhead women’s squad

Kalei Mau. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The Philippines’ drive for a medal in the Southeast Asian Games went into full gear after Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas (LVPI) released the lineup of the women’s squad that is headed for intensive training in Thailand next month.

Newly minted Philippine Superliga MVP Kalei Mau made the national team, where she will join superstars Alyssa Valdez and Aby Maraño, who will serve as team captain.

Mau and Valdez will be the outside hitters for the team along with Ces Molina, while the opposites will be veterans Aiza Pontillas and Jovelyn Gonzaga and Mylene Paat.

Maraño will lead the middle along with young blockers Maddie Madayag, Joy Baron and Roselyn Doria. Liberos are Dawn Macandili and Kath Arado.

Setters will be Jia Morado, Iris Tolenada, Alohi Robins-Hardy and Eya Laure, who will also be an outside spiker.

LVPI president Joey Romasanta said the team will train in Bangkok early next month and compete in the Southeast Asian Grand Prix in Nakhon Ratchasima, where it will face Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.