Players who failed to attend national team tryouts will not be included in the selection process for the Philippine team bound for the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation Inc (PNVF) President Tats Suzara made this bold statement Thursday, April 29, following the low turnout of players on Wednesday’s tryouts for the women’s indoor team at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
“No more,” Suzara said in a text message to Manila Bulletin when asked if players absent from the tryouts would be given a chance to join the PH team.
Only 16 of 40 female athletes attended the proceedings, including former national team captain Aby Maraño, Jaja Santiago, Majoy Baron, Mylene Paat, Eya Laure, Iris Tolenada, Ria Meneses and Dell Palomata, to name a few.
Notable players absent were Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo, Kim Dy, Dawn Macandili and Bea De Leon, who begged off due to travel and health concerns brought by the pandemic.
Suzara said the 16 players present in the women’s tryouts were already included in the squad “in principle.”
The men’s tryouts held Thursday, meanwhile, were well attended, with 31 of 40 invited players participating.
Among those who attended were members of the national team that won the historic silver medal at the 2019 SEAG that include Mark Alfafara, John Vic De Guzman, Marck Espejo, Jessie Lopez, Josh Retamar, Kim Malabunga, Ish Polvorosa, Jao Umandal, Rex Intal, Jack Kalingking, Ricky Marcos, and Francis Saura.
Also attending were JP Bugaoan, Kim Dayadante, Anthony, Ekwenugo, Mark Enciso, Alche Gupiteo, Noel Kampton, Chumson Njigha Jr., Leo Ordiales, Jian Matthew Salarzon, Manuel Sumanguid, Nicol Almendras, Leo Aringo, Lloy Josafat, Joeven dela Vega, Louie Ramirez, Ysay Marasigan, Banjo Mondero, Kharyl Parce, Rayver Sison and Francis Saura.
Bryan Bagunas failed to attend as he is still in quarantine after coming from Japan.
Beach volleyball tryouts for both men and women will be on Friday, April 30.
After the tryouts, Suzara said they are preparing to hold a bubble-type setup of training for the pool players in Subic.
They are targeting May 15 to June 1.