By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Several Western Visayas (WV)-based volleyball players were named as part of the national volleyball teams preparing for the 2021 Southeast Asian Games this May in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Negrense Bernadeth Pons, Guimarasnon Jovelyn Gonzaga and Ilongga Nerissa Bautista were among those shortlisted to the national women’s beach volleyball pool.

Pons was part of the Team Philippines that clinched bronze medal in the 2019 SEA Games beach volleyball, while Gonzaga is considered as one of the top beach volleyball player in the country.

The three Region 6 sand court spikers will join veterans Cherry Rondina, Floremel Rodriguez, Genesa Jane Eslapor, Jozza Mae Cabalsa, and Merry Rose Jauculan.

The national women’s indoor volleyball team, meanwhile, has two WV-based players in middle blockers Ilongga Abigail Maraño and Aklanon Dell Palomata.

Maraño and Palomata both showed prowess as part of the Odjie Mamon-mentored national women’s volleyball team that competed in a tournament in Thailand late last year.

Other members of the women’s team are Iris Janelle Tolenada, Jasmine Nabor, Deanna Wong, Julia Morado, Dawn Macandilli, Kat Arado, Alyja Santiago, Marivic Meneses, Frances Molina, Kalei Mau, Kat Tolentino, Alyssa Valdez, Jessica Galanza, Casiey Dongallo, Kim Dy, Mylene Paat, Jelaica Gajero, and Dindin Santiago-Manabat.

The national men’s beach volleyball team, meanwhile, will have a Negrense as its head coach in former Philippine Air Force mentor Rhovyl Verayo.

“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,” Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) President Ramon “Tats” Suzara said.

Out of the 20 women athletes in volleyball, Suzara said 14 will be picked for the SEA Games. For beach volleyball, 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./ASC, WDJ