PNVF starts hunt for four more names for national women's volleyball pool

Of the 20 slots, only 16 were filled in the national women’s volleyball team pool that the PNVF announced on Wednesday.

PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara revealed that all 16 who attended the tryouts last month made it to the pool with veterans Aby Maraño, Jaja Santiago, Majoy Baron, Ria Meneses and Mylene Paat leading the core. They will be joined by rising UAAP stars Eya Laure, Faith Nisperos, Imee Hernandez, Ivy Lacsina and Jennifer Nierva.

Iris Tolenada, Kamille Cal, Michaela Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Dell Palomata, and Bernadette Pepito, meanwhile, complete the youthful roster.

So, how will the federation identify the four remaining names?

Suzara, a longtime volleyball patron, explained that concurrent head coach Odjie Mamon and incoming Brazilian mentor Jorge Edson Souza de Brito will deliberate on who will make the cut and will complete the 20-strong list.

Mamon and his deputies said they are still studying who to tap in various positions namely setter, outside hitter, libero, and opposite and stressed they will most likely tap players hailing from the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

This means that high-profile players like Alyssa Valdez, Jia Morado, Kim Fajardo, Kalei Mau and Dawn Macandili — all of whom skipped the three-day tryout due to personal reasons — could still make the roster.

Save for Mau and Fajardo, all three players were part of the 2019 SEA Games team that finished fourth behind Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia and with them in the fold, the Philippines could end a long medal drought in the regional meet.

“It will be decided by coach Jorge and coach Odjie,” said Suzara.

“They will be selected during the start of the PVL season and of course, the previous competitions.”

Suzara said the national volleyball teams will kick off their training on June 1 in Subic while the beach volleyball teams will head to a bubble camp in Ilocos Norte.

“In selecting the members of the pool, we put into consideration the athletes’ skills and potentials to improve. And importantly, their dedication to the flag and country.”

“Our men’s and women’s volleyball teams will start their training on June 1 in Subic. But we still have to talk with PSC to finalize the setup.” —Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News