Decision on final volley cut on hold

MANILA, Philippines - National women’s team coach Francis Vicente last night deferred from making the final decision on the team composition for this year’s SEA Games, saying the door is still open for Alyssa Valdez and the rest who failed to make it to the Clash of Heroes at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

“Hindi naman sya naka-padlock, kakatok ka lang (It is not padlocked, you just have to knock),” said Vicente, hinting at giving the absentees a chance to still make it to the team.

The players who didn’t show up in last night’s showcase event were Valdez, Kim Fajardo, Grethcel Soltones, Myla Pablo, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Rachel Daquis and Elaine Kasilag due to various reasons.

Team Blue rallied from two sets down to beat Team Red, 19-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-15, 15-10 in aa match billed as the final tryout for the women’s national team vying in the Kuala Lumpur Games in August.

Earlier, coach Sammy Acaylar trimmed down the men’s list from 29 to 23 with four-time UAAP MVP Marck Espejo of Ateneo out of the pool for failure to attend last night’s showcase event.

Johnvic de Guzman have long been named skipper of the pool that also includes Alnakrin Abdilla, Dave Cabaron, Greg Dolor, Esmail Kasim, Reyson Fuentes, Manuel Doliente, Relan Taneo, Jason Uy, Mark Deximo and Jack Kalingking.

The other members are John Carascal, Eddiemar Kasim, Alfred Valbuena, Louwie Chavez, Peter Quiel, Rey Taneo, Kenneth Sarcena, Geuel Asia, JC David, Jeffrey Malabanan, Edward Camposano and Bryan Bagunas.

Out of the pool with Espejo are Bonjomar Castel, Herschel Ramos, Peter Torres, Lorenzo Capati, Ericson Ramos, Mark Alfafara and Ish Polvorosa, most were not allowed by their respective clubs and school teams to join the exhibition-cum-tryout event.

Espejo is one of the country’s top players who steered Ateneo to multiple UAAP titles. He was also the best player for the Phl side that competed in the last SEA Games in Singapore.

“I respect the decision of those who didn’t come and I’m not against them,” said Acaylar after the de Guzman-led Blue team beat the Red squad, 25-27, 25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 15-9.

“My philosophy that this not about one person but as a team, we need oneness for us to be complete,” said Acaylar.