Phl belles seek improvement in GP 2nd leg

Games today (Sta. Rosa, Laguna) 1:30 p.m. – Opening ceremonies/ 3 p.m. – Philippines vs Vietnam 5 p.m. – Thailand vs Indonesia

Returning national players Grethcel Soltones and Jasmine Nabor are expected to provide a big help as the Philippine women’s volleyball team looks for a better finish in the second leg of the inaugural ASEAN Grand Prix set to fire off today at the Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Sports Complex in Laguna.

From a bronze-medal feat in the opening leg in Thailand last month, the Nationals seek to raise the level of their play in a campaign they begin versus Team Vietnam at 3 p.m.

Thailand and Indonesia clash at 5 p.m. in a rematch of the gold-medal showdown in the first leg won by the Thais.

With a lineup boosted by Soltones and Nabor, the Phl belles hope to make the finale of the four-nation ASEAN GP which also serves as a test event for the SEA Games the country is hosting on Nov. 30-Dec.11.

Soltones and Nabor had their previous stint with the Philippine team in the AVC Asian Cup in Thailand last year.

Also returning to the Philippine team is Creamline star spiker Alyssa Valdez after sitting out the first leg due to an ankle injury. Valdez, together with her teammate Jia Morado, PacificTown Army’s Jovelyn Gonzaga, UST’s Eya Laure and Choco Mucho’s Maddie Madayag have been given the PVL the greenlight to join the national team campaign.

Morada, Gonzaga, Laure and Madayag were key parts of the Nationals’ first leg campaign where they eclipsed the Vietnamese for the bronze medal.

Completing the roster are PSL stars Mylene Paat, Roselyn Doria, Kath Arado, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Ces Molina, Dawn Macandili, Aby Maraño and ASEAN GP opening leg best middle blocker Majoy Baron.