PH men’s volleyball tryouts in Subic. PNVF PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Marck Espejo led the men’s national team training pool for the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.
Twenty players make up the pool, announced by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation on Wednesday, with the likes of Bryan Bagunas, John Vic de Guzman and Rex Intal also joining Espejo.
On the women’s side, all 16 players, bannered by Jaja Santiago, who showed up at the tryouts in Subic last month made the cut.
“We are presenting the men and women of Philippine volleyball who will do battle in two important tournaments later this year,” PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said in a press conference.
“In selecting the members of the pool, we put into strong consideration the athletes’ skills and potentials to improve, and as importantly, their dedication to flag and country, and their visibly innate qualities,” he added.
Rounding out the men’s pool are setters Jessie Lopez, Kim Dayadante, Ish Polvorosa, and Josh Retamar, outside hitters Mark Alfafara, Jao Umandal and Nico Almendras, opposites Ysay Marasigan, Joeven del Vega, middle blockers Kim Malabunga, Francis Saura, JP Bugaoan and Lloyd Josafat and liberos Jack Kalingking, Ricky Marcos and Manuel Sumanguid.
Thirteen of those selected to be part of the men’s pool were members of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games team that won the silver medal.
Meanwhile, 10 men’s and women’s players were included in the beach volleyball pool.