Eighteen of the 34 on Ramil De Jesus’ wishlist attended the first National Team tryout at the Arellano University Gym, Friday evening.
Alyssa Valdez, Melissa Gohing, and Jia Morado of the Creamline Cool Smashers and Ramil De Jesus’ own DLSU Lady Spikers trio of Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili, and Majoy Baron headlined the field.
Cha Cruz, Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo, and Aby Maraño of the F2 Logistics Cargo; MJ Phillips and Rebecca Rivera of the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors; and CJ Rosario, Maika Ortiz and Dindin Santiago-Manabat of the Foton Tornadoes also participated in the night’s drills.
Collegiate stars Sisi Rondina of the UST Golden Tigresses, Jaja Santiago of the NU Lady Bulldogs, and Mylene Paat of the Adamson Lady Falcons were also present.
Rondina and Jaja Santiago, however, did not participate as they have a UAAP game on Saturday.
Maraño did not participate in drills either after suffering an injury to her right hand on Thursday night.
Notable absences included NU’s Jasmin Nabor, FEU Lady Tamaraws’ Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza, UE Lady Warriors’ Kath Arado, and UP Lady Maroons’ Isa Molde and Diana “Tots” Carlos. Players from the Ateneo Lady Eagles – Bea de Leon, Jho Maraguinot, and Maddie Madayag – were also absent.
Former national team mainstay Rachel Anne Daquis was also absent, as well as former national team captain Mika Reyes.
The tryout was held to help determine the team that will compete in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
