Alyssa, Mika, Jaja named to PH team

The Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) is sending the national women’s volleyball team to an extensive training stint in Japan as part of its buildup for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

LVPI president Joey Romasanta said the team will spend two weeks in tuneup matches with different Japanese club teams next month.

“We’re still looking for possible venues for our national team in Japan. We’re hoping that this exposure would boost our team in the Asian Games,” Romasanta said.

Japan is known as a powerhouse country in the sport, with its women’s volleyball team currently ranked No. 6 in the world.

On Thursday night, PH team coach Shaq Delos Santos announced the final 12 players and two reserves with the goal of representing the country in the Asian Games in Indonesia Aug. 18 to Sept. 2.

Aby Maraño spearheaded the team made up of Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes, Jaja Santiago, Jia Morado, Kim Fajardo, Dawn Macandili, Kianna Dy, Dindin Manabat, Cha Cruz-Behag, Ces Molina and Alyssa Valdez.

Rhea Dimaculangan and Denden Lazaro were named reserves.

Should the Philippine Olympic Committee give its imprimatur, this will mark the first time the country will be sending a women’s volleyball team to the Asian Games since the 1982 edition in New Delhi where it finished fifth.

An insider said POC president Ricky Vargas will make a decision on whether or not to approve the inclusion of women’s volleyball in the PH contingent to the 18th Asiad when he returns from Switzerland where he met with Thomas Back, president of the International Olympic Committee.