Three more players have been added to the Philippine Women’s National Indoor Volleyball Team pool.
For their standout performance from the Premier Volleyball League bubble, Choco Mucho’s Deanna Wong and Kat Tolentino; and Creamline’s Jema Galanza have received invites to the national team, which competes in the 2021 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship this October.
Wong, 23, was the runner-up in the Best Setter race during the Open Conference. The 5-foot-8 Cebuana averaged 5.79 sets per frame while also tallying a total of 136 digs through the semis – the fourth-best in the league.
Tolentino, 26, won the Best Opposite Spiker plum after averaging 14.91 points per contest through the semis – second-best in the league.
Finally, Galanza, 24, was the MVP of the 2019 Open Conference. During the last tournament, the 5-foot-7 spiker had 103 total points until the semifinals – the 11th best in the league.
These players impressed head coach Odjie Mamon and Brazilian consultant Jorge Edson Souza de Brito.
The National Team needed to form a pool of 24 players as the country will send two teams to the club championship. The tournament takes place from October 1 to 7 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Other members of the pool are Majoy Baron, Mhicaela Belen, Kamille Cal, Rhea Dimaculangan, Kim Dy, Imee Hernandez, Ivy Lacsina, Eya Laure, Dawn Macandili, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Aby Maraño, Kalei Mau, Ria Meneses, Jennifer Nierva, Faith Nisperos, Mylene Paat, Dell Palomata, Bernadette Pepito, MJ Phillips, Jaja Santiago, Tin Tiamzon, and Iris Tolenada.
Santiago’s participation still depends on her club team Saitama Ageo Medics. The Japanese government wants all the guest players from their various pro leagues to arrive by mid-September.
