Alyssa Valdez, Jia Morado back in women's volleyball pool for SEA Games; men's team remains almost intact

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) on Sunday released the list of players who will be part of the national training pool for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, including Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado.

Valdez and Morado are back in the training pool after missing the Asian Club Volleyball Championship.

The likes of Aby Maraño, Kianna Dy, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, and Deanna Wong will also make their return to the national team. Other players named in the pool include Iris Tolenada, Jasmine Nabor, Dawn Macandili, Dell Palomata, Ces Molina, Kalei Mau, Kat Tolentino, Casiey Dongallo, Mylene Paat, Faye Gajero, and Jaja Santiago.

Meanwhile, the men's team remain almost intact with the likes of John Vic De Guzman, Rex Intal, Kim Malabunga, and Ish Polvorosa still being in the pool. They will be joined by Ysay Marasigan, JP Bugaoan, Francis Saura, Jessie Lopez, Manuel Sumanguid III, Kim Dayandante, Josh Retamar, Joeven dela Vega, Jack Kalingking, Mark Alfafara, Nico Almendras, Ricky Marcos, and Lloyd Josafat. Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, who also missed the Asian Club Volleyball Championship, have also been included in the pool.

PNVF president Tats Suzara said collegiate players will not be able to join the pool because of the collegiate leagues' schedules.

“It’s unfortunate that our promising young players from the collegiate leagues couldn’t join the pool, and the SEA Games for that matter, because their respective leagues are resuming their competitions before the Hanoi Games,” said Suzara.

Jorge Souza de Brito will handle the women's squad, along with Odjie Mamon, Grace Antigua, and George Pascua, while the men's team will be under Dante Alinsunurin, Ariel dela Cruz, and Sherwin Meneses.

For the beach volleyball team, the duo of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons will return to the sands, along with Floremel Rodriguez, Genesa Jane Eslapor, Jozza Mae Cabalsa, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Nerissa Bautista, and Baby Love Barbon.

The men's beach volleyball pool will include Jaron Requinton, Anthony Lemuel Arbastro, Jr., Jude Garcia, James Buytrago, Alnakran Abdilla, Philip Michael Bagalay, Pol Gringo Salvador, and Jeffer Guerrero.

The SEA Games in Vietnam will be held on May 12-25.

—JMB, GMA News