Two volleybelles from Western Visayas will lead their respective teams as they represent the country in the much-anticipated Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, from Oct. 1 to 7.
Ilongga Abigail Maraño is set to head Team Rebisco squad, along with Ejiya Laure, Jessica Galanza, Faith Nisperos, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Mhicaela Belen, Imee Hernandez, Ivy Lacsina, Rhea Dimaculangan, Kamille Cal, Jennifer Nierva, and Bernadette Pepito.
Aklan’s Dell Palomata will also banner Team Choco Mucho, alongside Iris Tolenada, Kalei Mau, Marjana Phillips, Ernestine Tiamzon, Kat Tolentino, Mylene Paat, Kianna Dy, Marivic Meneses, Mary Joy Baron, Deanna Wong, and Dawn Macandili.
The Philippines will field two women’s national volleyball teams wherein Rebisco is in Group B, alongside Thailand’s Supreme Chonburi, Kazakhstan’s Altay Volleyball Club, and Iran’s Saipa; while Choco Mucho is in Group A together with Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima and Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu.
According to Ramon Suzara, head of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, the division of the two teams was finalized at a meeting with Brazilian consultant coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito and national team coach Odjie Mamon.
Aside from women’s team, the Dante Alinsunurin-coached Rebisco men’s volleyball squad will also compete in the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship on Oct. 8 to 15 at the same venue.
The Pinoy spikers include John Vic de Guzman, Jessie Lopez, Ysay Marasigan, Rex Intal, Mark Alfafara, Nico Almendras, Kim Malabunga, Ish Polvorosa, Francis Saura, Manuel Sumanguid, Josh Retamar, Jao Umandal, Ricky Marcos, and JP Bugaoan.
“With these club championships, we are putting in harness the national team program aimed at three major international competitions in 2022,” Suzara said.
The teams will also join the Asian Games in Huangzhou, Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, and the Asian Senior Women’s Championship that the country is hosting in May next year.
