Fil-Hawaiian spiker Kalei Mau gets FIVB nod to play for Philippines

Kalei Mau can now represent the Philippines on the international stage.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) announced that the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has issued the approval on Mau's eligibility to play for the country.

The Fil-Hawaiian spiker was supposed to suit up for the national team during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games but was disallowed due to her affiliation with the USA volleyball.

The PNVF also said that Brazilian coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito, who is expected to aid the women's team's preparation for this year's competitions, has finally secured his visa.

"These are a couple of good news for Philippine volleyball. With Coach Jorge flying in soon and Mau already available to play for the country, we can now go on full throttle for the women's national team training," said PNVF chief Ramon "Tats" Suzara.

Both Souza de Brito and Mau will be a big boost in a number of competitions for this year such as the Asian Women's Seniors Championship in Pampanga and the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.

The foreign mentor, who won a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona as a Brazilian national team member, will work closely with interim head coach Odjie Mamon.

Meanwhile, Mau will still have to fight for her spot. 

There are still four slots available for the national women's volleyball team as only 16 of the 20 slots were filled in the pool list that the PNVF announced last May.

Mau has seen action in the local league as part of United Volleyball Club in 2018 before jumping ship to F2 Logistics the following year.

—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA News