Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 30) — The Philippine National Volleyball Federation on Sunday announced the country’s indoor and beach volleyball squads competing in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) slated in May in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Sisters Dindin and Jaja Santiago and Alyssa Valdez lead the 20-woman Philippine indoor volleyball squad, who will be coached by Odjie Mamon and guided by veteran Brazilian mentor Jorge Edson Souza De Brito.
Helping the three volleyball stars in the middle are hitters Mylene Paat, Kim Dy, Abi Maraño, Kat Tolentino, Jema Galanza, Ces Molina, and Kalei Mau.
Blockers Ria Meneses and Dell Palomata are also included in the squad.
The setters are Jia Morado, Iris Tolenada, Jasmine Nabor, and Deanna Wong. Kat Arado and Dawn Macandili are the squad’s liberos.
Making their national team debut are California-based young recruits, including 16-year-old opposite hitter Casiey Dongallo and 17-year-old open spiker Jelaica Gajero.
Meanwhile, Japan pro players Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas banner the 20-man Philippine team, who is expected to achieve a golden finish after a surprising silver medal feat in the last SEAG held in Manila.
Spikers who are part of the silver-medal winning Philippine team and will return to action in Hanoi are hitters Joshua Umandal, Mark Alfafara, and John Vic De Guzman; blockers Kim Malabunga, Francis Saura, and Rex Intal; setters Joshua Retamar, Ish Polvorosa and Jessie Lopez; and liberos Ricky Marcos and Jack Kalingking.
The new additions in the Dante Alinsunurin-mentored squad are opposite hitter Ysay Marasigan, outside hitters Joeven dela Vega and Angelo Almendras, middle blockers John Paul Bugaoan and Lloyd Josafat, libero Manuel Sumanguid III, and setter Kim Dayandante.
SiPons tandem leads women’s beach spikers; Requinton, Buytrago head male beach volleyball team
The tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, who are half of the bronze-medal winning Philippine women’s beach volleyball team in the previous SEAG, will come back to lead the squad in Vietnam.
Veteran spikers Jovelyn Gonzaga and Nerissa Bautista will take their act to the beach volleyball national team coached by Paul Jan Doloiras.
Also part of the squad are Dij Rodriguez, Merry Rose Jauculan, Jane Eslapor, and Jozza Mae Cabalsa.
On the men’s side, Jaron Requinton and James Buytrago head the national beach volleyball team mentored by Rhovyl Verayo. Joining the two are Anthony Albastro Jr., Jude Garcia, Alnakran Abdilla, Philip Michael Bagalay, Pol Gringo Salvador, and Jeffer Guerrero.
