PNVF announces national pool members for Hanoi SEA Games

THE Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) named 40 athletes for volleyball and 16 players for beach volleyball to the national pool for the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Game.

There are 20 athletes each for the men and women divisions for volleyball and eight apiece also for both genders for beach volleyball.

“The federation approved the recommendation of the national coaching staff for the national pool where we will eventually name the final composition of the teams for the Hanoi SEA Games,” PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara said.

Suzara said the coaching staff recommended additional members of the pool because collegiate players won’t be available during the training period and competition schedule of the SEA Games which are set from May 12 to 25.

“It’s unfortunate that our promising young players from the collegiate leagues couldn’t join the pool, and the SEA Games for that matter, because their respective leagues are resuming their competitions before the Hanoi Games,” said Suzara, referring to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The PNVF, Suzara stressed, envisioned a national team composed of young and promising players but the circumstances surrounding the collegiate leagues that were shuttered for two years stalled the federation’s goal.

Jorge Edson Souza de Brito, an Fivb-appointed volleyball coach tasked to oversee the country’s women’s national team program, selected the new members of the pool.

Out of the 40 men and women athletes in volleyball, Suzara said 14 will be picked for each gender for the SEA Games. For beach volleyball, four men and four women—two teams each—will be named.

The deadline set by the Hanoi SEA Games organizers for the submission of entries by names is on March 12.