Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Tats Suzara took a firm stance last April regarding players’ inclusion in the national team.
16 players attended the national team tryouts for the 2021 AVC Women’s Seniors Championship and the 31st Southeast Asian Games last April 28 in Subic. He then guaranteed that all those players would be shoo-ins for the 20-woman pool.
“I want to be fair to all. No tryout, no national team,” Suzara said.
Of the 24 spikers who begged of because of safety reasons due to the pandemic was Alyssa Valdez, one of the country’s top hitters.
The Interviewer asked the seven-time Premier Volleyball League Most Valuable Player if she would suit up for the national team. She did not answer the question, though, as she is not in the right place to respond.
But if given the chance to don the colors of the Philippines again internationally, the Creamline superstar did not hesitate.
“I’m not in the position to say anything po kung mapapasama ako sa national team kasi may mga tamang tao na makakasagot sa question na ‘yan.
“But kapag pinatawag, and siyempre alam niyo naman po ‘yung commitment and dedication natin sa national team and para sa bansa. Gustong-gusto po nating ilaban at i-represent ang bansa kung sakali po,” she said.
All hope is not lost, though. There remains a chance for Valdez and all the other spikers who failed to attend the tryout in Subic two months ago to crack the national team lineup. But it will be a very tiny hole to enter.
To complete the 20-woman pool, PNVF looks to find a setter, an outside hitter, a libero, and an opposite spiker in the PVL’s Open Conference slated to begin late June or early July.
