UP Lady Maroons Isa Molde and Tots Carlos along with Ateneo duo Deanna Wong and Maddie Madayag will not be able to be part of the Philippine Women’s Under-23 National Volleyball team in the 2019 Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Championships.
The collegiate spikers have expressed their desire to play for flag and country, but were deemed unavailable to don the national team’s colors in the invitational tournament to be held from July 4 to 10 due to varying reasons.
According to U-23 head coach Kungfu Reyes, Wong, who attended the previous training sessions of both the U-23 and Seniors team, suffered an injury that will keep her out of the playing field for quite a while.
Madayag, on the other hand, has been on a six-week layoff following the Lady Eagles’ UAAP Season 81 title conquest and has to work her way back to a game condition.
“Supposedly, sila Deanna Wong, um-okay na kaso naka-cast na siya e. So meron siyang ithe-therapy sa shin niya ata yun o kung ano mang injury niya,” the youth team mentor disclosed.
“Hindi pwede pero gusto ng bata.
“Now, we talked to Ateneo, okay naman sila. Problema lang talaga, hindi lang natin pwedeng i-sacrifice yung health ng mga taong gusto natin,” he continued. “So yung willingness nila Maddie, gusto nila maglaro. Problema naman, siyempre coming from UAAP, hindi rin fit to play dahil wala ng ensayo. So yung mga ganung gestures, maganda pa rin yung indication.”
Supposed-captain Molde, meanwhile, will have to pass on the skipper position to FEU middle blocker Celine Domingo, as she, along with Carlos and Marist Layug are still playing pivotal roles in Motolite’s campaign in the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference.
“Yun nga kasi hindi rin mapayagan kasi meron rin silang ipinaglalaban e.
“Kasi nga nagbubuild rin sila ng new team so naintindihan namin yung mga ganoong part,” Reyes bared. “Hindi rin naman kami insisting na kasi meron din silang dapat gawin para sa team nila.”
PacificTown-Army setter Alina Bicar and Perlas Spiker Jeanette Villareal were also among the players that were unavailable because of club commitments.
“Nagkataon na semis e, semis at ongoing yung lahat ng games. Hindi naman sila normal na player na pwede mong alisin anytime kasi mga role player din so naintindihan mo rin yung part na yun,” continued Reyes, who will be with the U-23 squad and represent the country despite his commitment with PacificTown-Army.
Domingo, who also plays for Creamline, was allowed by the Rebisco-backed team to take part in the tournament in Thailand.
As she takes on the mantle of captain, Reyes will bank on a relatively young core, which includes Mafe Galanza, Lyn Galdones, Ysa Jimenez, Maji Mangulabnan, Rachelle Roldan, Imee Hernandez, and Janna Torres of UST; Angel Canino of DLSZ; Ivanna Agudo and Lyann De Guzman of FEU; Rossie Rosier and Jewel Encarnacion of UP; and Justine Jazareno of DLSU.
“Basta yung mga estudyante yung mag rerepresent ngayon. That’s the beauty of it, meron tayong mga reserve na player na this time. Yun talagang mga bata na walang commitment sa any club team.”
