By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Seventeen Western Visayas-based volleyball players were invited to the national team tryouts by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) from April 28 to 30 in Subic. 

Guimarasnon opposite spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga of Philippine Army Lady Troopers got two invites in the women’s indoor volleyball as well as in women’s beach volleyball but she is choosing the latter.

“Thank you indoor volleyball. That was a great journey with you [but] for now it’s time for me to take a new route,” Gonzaga wrote on her Instagram story. “Bigay na natin sa mas karapat-dapat. Para sa bayan.”

Gonzaga, a two-time MVP in the V-League, already had her time in the national women’s indoor volleyball having served as team captain in the squad that competed in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.

Aside from Gonzaga, other Region 6-based volleybelles who received invite were Ilongga middle blocker Abigail Maraño, Aklanon middle blocker Dell Palomata and Bacolodnon hitter Angel Canino.

There were also two Bacolodnons in the men’s indoor volleyball in Jian Matthew Salarzon of Living Stone International School and Leo Ordiales of National University Bulldogs.

In women’s beach volleyball, getting invites aside from Gonzaga were Negrenses Bernadeth Pons, Alexa Polidario, Erjane Magdato, and Jennifer Cosas and Ilonggas Jackie Estoquia, DM Demontano and Princess Robles.

In the juniors women’s beach volleyball, two of the invites were from Region 6 in Ilonggas Roma Mae Doromal of Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles and Maria Megan Gumban of University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Tigresses.

In men’s juniors beach volleyball, getting tryout invites from PNVF were Victorias City, Negros Occidental-natives Alexander Cabatuan and Jay Rack Dela Noche, both from UST.

National coaches Arthur Mamon (volleyball women) Dante Alinsunurin (volleyball men), Paul Jan Doloiras (beach volleyball women) and Rhovyl Verayo (beach volleyball men) will supervise the tryouts./ASC, WDJ