Cherry Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dzi Gervacio, Dij Rodriguez, Jude Garcia, Jaron Requinton, and James Buytrago are back for another tour of duty with the national team.
“We are presenting the men and women of Philippine volleyball who will do battle in two important tournaments later this year,” PNVF President Tats Suzara told the press conference also attended by his secretary general Donald Caringal; National Team Commission chair Tony Boy Liao; and coaches Paul Jan Doloiras (beach volleyball men), and Rhovyl Verayo (beach volleyball women).
The seven players who won bronze in the 30th Southeast Asian Games were part of the pools for the women’s and men’s beach volleyball teams by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
Joining the men’s side is SEA Games indoor volleyball silver medalist Ranran Abdilla.
Meanwhile, for the women’s side, decorated volleyball grounds University of Santo Tomas and Abanse Negrense saw themselves well-represented.
Joining the 2019 SEA Games quartet are UST’s Babylove Barbon, Gen Eslapor, and Mer Jauculan; and Abanse Negrense’s Jennifer Cosas, Alexa Polidario, and Erjane Magdato.
Notable cuts from the women’s team were Jovelyn Gonzaga, Jackie Estoquia, and DM Demontano.
Completing the men’s side are Anthony Arbasto, Philip Bagalay, Jade Becaldo, Calvin Sarte, James Pecaña, and AJ Pareja.
“These men and women, may I say, are to become lethal in the next five months or so,” said Liao, who joined the press conference from the US.
“The national coaches took their time in determining who deserves to be in the pool.”
The beach teams will begin practice earlier than their indoor counterpart. They will also compete in the 2018–2020 AVC Continental Cup Final from June 21-27. It is an Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“For beach volleyball, they will start their bubble training next week, May 15 in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte,” said Suzara.
