Head coach Francis Vicente announced the first cut for the National Team earlier today after much fuss over the last few weeks.
2016 PSA Ms. Volleyball and three-time UAAP champion Mika Reyes was named the captain of the team after heavy deliberation.
Three-time Premier Volleyball League MVP Alyssa Valdez, three-time UAAP champion Kim Fajardo, 2016 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Most Valuable Player Dawn Macandili, 2016 PSL Invitational MVP Jovelyn Gonzaga, and 2016 PSL Grand Prix MVP Jaja Santiago headlined the first cut.
Rachel Daquis, Aby Maraño, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Rhea Dimaculangan, Denden Lazaro, Maika Ortiz, Geneveve Casugod, Ria Meneses, Ces Molina, Roselle Baliton, Kath Arado, and Lourdes Clemente round out the pool.
The team will be further trimmed right before they embark on the AVC Seniors tournament in early August.
Vicente emphasized that the goal of the team is to win a medal in the Southeast Asian Games.
“Hindi ko pa masabi kung anong kulay ng medalya pero ang goal pa rin namin is ‘yung pinakamataas. Malakas ‘yung team na ‘to,” he closed.
