Long-term program sought for national volleyball squad

MANILA, Philippines – The Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) is looking at a long-term program for the newly selected members of the national women’s team.

LVPI president Joey Romasanta said the upcoming 18th Asian Games in Jakarta is not the only tournament in their pipeline as they are looking to stretch the program up to the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila next year.

Romasanta, also the 1st vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and karate chief, said they have been getting a number of invitations for training and competition abroad so it’s only imperative that they assemble two teams —  or a pool of at least 20 players — to sustain the program.

Their first order of battle is the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference where they were invited to see action as a guest team.

The Nationals will open their bid against Cignal on June 28 before facing Sta. Lucia on June 30; F2 Logistics on July 7; Cocolife on July 10; Petron on July 12; Foton on July 14; Generika-Ayala on July 24; and Smart on July 26.

They, however, won’t clash against United Auctioneers-UP and Cherrylume-UE as both of them entered as developmental teams.

Still, the PSL will be a good warm-up for the national pool.

“The Philippines has been invited to a lot of international tournaments aside from other mandatory tournaments,” Romasanta, the former chief of Project: Gintong Alay during the Aquino administration, said.

“That’s why we’re looking at forming two teams, or at least a pool of 20 players, where coaches can draw players whenever there’s an international tourney.”

In the lineup announced by the federation late Thursday, it appears that the national squad is meant to stay.

Young stars Jia Morado, Dawn Macandili, Jaja Santiago, Kianna Dy and Majoy Baron composed the core together with former national team stalwarts Alyssa Valdez, Frances Molina, Dindin Manabat, Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo and team captain Aby Marano.

Head coach Shaq Delos Santos also recruited only one veteran in Cha Cruz-Behag to provide leadership and stability inside and outside the court.

Two more veterans in Denden Lazaro and Rhea Dimaculangan were also put in the reserve list while young stars Bea de Leon, Lourdes Clemente and Risa Sato would be ready for deployment together with other members of the pool like Rebecca Rivera, MJ Philips, Myla Pablo and Mylene Paat, Maika Ortiz and CJ Rosario.

“There’s no guesswork in coming up with this lineup. It was the product of a long, thorough deliberation process among coaches,” said LVPI vice president Peter Cayco, adding that the projected training and exposures will do wonders to the national team program.

“You can’t get (experience) anywhere else. You have to experience it. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, the ultimate goal is for these girls to get the international exposure they need.”