Espejo ‘hurt’ after not being included in national team pool

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo superstar Marck Espejo admitted he was “hurt” when he wasn’t invited to take part in the tryouts the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas conducted for the national team pool.

Subsequently, Espejo wasn’t included in the final pool the LVPI formed for future international tournaments.

Espejo, though, said whoever made it to the lineup fully deserves the inclusion.

READ: Sorry, LVPI tells Ateneo for missed invites

“Of course I was hurt a little bit but the lineup’s there, the coach has changed, nothing’s constant,” said Espejo after leading the Blue Spikers over University of Santo Tomas, 22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-21, in the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.

“Maybe the officials saw something in the players who are in the pool, and we’re all athletes here so let’s just give our all-out support for them because this is the Philippine volleyball team,” said Espejo.

But the LVPI, after it was made public that players from Ateneo did not get invites to the tryouts, had extended its apologies and promised to hold separate screenings for Espejo and some members of the Lady Eagles.

Jia Morado, Kat Tolentino, and Maddie Madayag were also given invitations to the special tryouts.

Espejo, though still excluded from the pool, said he still wants to be part of the national team.

“I still want to be part of the team, but I think it’s really not for me, and I think it was meant for the other players,” said Espejo.