The Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team lost height, but added speed and players at their natural positions for the upcoming AVC Women’s Seniors Cup in Thailand which kicks off on September 17.
After initially announcing the absence of six players from the Asian Games roster Friday, the Philippines added first-time National Team campaigner Jema Galanza and Jasmine Nabor along with returning Grethcel Soltones, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Risa Sato, and Melissa Gohing for the annual tournament, which holds bearing in the country’s fledgling FIVB rank.
Agno and Sato last saw action for the country in the 2015 Asian U23. Soltones last played in the 2015 SEA Games; Nabor was a part of the U-19 squad in 2016; while Pontillas suited up in the 2017 SEA Games.
They join Alyssa Valdez, Aby Maraño, Jia Morado, Denden Lazaro, Mika Reyes, Maika Ortiz, Cha Cruz-Behag and Mylene Paat.
The six players will also join the initial 20-woman pool for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
There were six players the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas wanted for the tourney but they begged off.
Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron, and Kianna Dy will join the De La Salle University Lady Spikers in a New York trip on the same dates; Jaja Santiago and Dindin Santiago-Manabat will be in Japan to compete in the V-Premiere League with their yet-to-be-disclosed club teams; Kim Fajardo will sit out to rest a swollen right knee.
Erratum: An earlier version of this story metioned Tin Agno instead of Melissa Gohing. It was later announced through LVPI President Peter Cayco that Agno backed out due to conflicts with her commitment to Army.
