Alyssa Valdez and three other Premier Volleyball League players have been cleared to play for the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team in the second leg of the ASEAN Grand Prix.
Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. President Joey Romasanta confirmed to Tiebreaker Times that Creamline’s Valdez and teammate Jia Morado; Choco Mucho’s Maddie Madayag; and PacificTown-Army’s Jovelyn Gonzaga have all received the green light to compete in the regional meet in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
However, Valdez, Morado, and Madayag will miss the national team’s match on October 5, Saturday, as they figure in a PVL game in Iloilo for their respective club teams. Meanwhile, Gonzaga has received clearance to suit up for flag and country on all three playdates.
Romasanta also disclosed that the PLDT duo of Grethcel Soltones and Jasmine Nabor will reinforce the Nationals to fill in for Kalei Mau and Alohi Robins-Hardy.
This comes in the wake of national team head coach Shaq Delos Santos’ decision to allow Mau to recover from an “overused” left Achilles; and the ineligibility of Robins-Hardy due to concerns regarding her Philippine passport.
As of publishing, Delos Santos has 15 players at his disposal for at least one playdate, when the Philippines makes its home stand on October 4 to 6.
The pool includes Valdez, Morado, Madayag, Gonzaga, Nabor, and Soltones, alongside team skipper Aby Maraño, AGP first leg’s Best Middle Blocker Majoy Baron, Mylene Paat, Roselyn Doria, Ces Molina, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Eya Laure, Dawn Macandili, and Kath Arado.
