With the Southeast Asian Games just a month away, Philippine women’s national volleyball team head coach Jorge Souza de Brito has made a couple of difficult decisions.
Pressed for time, the Brazilian head coach has decided to let go of the players that will miss the team’s training camp in Barueri, Brazil.
First was Deanna Wong. She is nursing an injured shin she sustained during the 2022 PVL Open Conference.
But Wong was not the only player the national team had to leave behind.
Also cut were 5-foot-9 outside hitter Casiey Dongallo and 5-foot-9 opposite spiker Jelai Gajero. The two could not make the trip to Brazil.
PNVF National Teams commission head Tony Boy Liao confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times.
Liao, though, did not disclose the reason behind the absence of the two California Precision Sports standouts for the Brazil camp.
With this, only 13 players will fly to Istanbul, Turkey for their connecting flight to Sao Paolo, Brazil. These are Alyssa Valdez Jema Galanza, Mylene Paat, Aby Maraño, Majoy Baron, Ces Molina, Kath Arado, Dawn Macandili, Dell Palomata, Ria Meneses, Iris Tolenada, Kat Tolentino, and Kyle Negrito.
Photo from Saitama Ageo Medics
The team will land at Istanbul tomorrow at 9:30 AM (Philippine time) where they will meet Jaja Santiago. An eight-hour layover will be waiting for them there before flying to Brazil.
In Barueri, the team will hold twice-a-day trainings for six days before facing local teams in the following days.
