THE Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) announced on Sunday the members of the national men’s pool from which the national team to the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Games in May will be culled out.
The pool buckled down to Day 1 of practice at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion under head coach Odjie Mamon, according to PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
The pool, Suzara said, will then fly to Chinese-Taipei on February 15 for a 10-day training camp, which includes tune-up matches against Taiwanese pro clubs Taipower, Win+Streak, Taichung Apollo and TFMI Falcon in the cities of Kaohsiung, Taichung and Tauyuan.
“This partnership with the Chinese Taipai Volleyball Association, through its secretary-general Chan Jing-Jong, is just part of the various deals or joint programs that the PNVF has forged with our foreign counterparts,” Suzara said.
The members of the pool are Jade Disquitado, Lloyd Josafat, Rex Intal, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, Joshua Umandal, Vince Lorenzo, Jay Rack de la Noche, Madzlan Gampong, Kim Dayandante, Jelex Mendiola, Vince Mangulabnan, Edward Camposano, Jayvee Sumagaysay and Noel Kampton.
Joining Mamon are assistant coach Rommel John Abella, strength and conditioning coach Miggy Samonte, trainer Mark Alfafara and team manager Jerome Guhit.
They had a huddle with PNVF secretary-general Donaldo Caringal, national team commission chairman Tonyboy Liao and member Oliver Mora at the UST facility on Sunday.
“It’s a mix of young and veteran players but I’m also planning to include five more players in the pool,” Mamon said. “This training exchange program is very important to our SEA Games campaign.”
The men’s pool will have another training camp with the top-tier V.League Division I team Panasonic Panthers in April in Osaka, Japan, according to Suzara.
The PNVF is also expecting the arrival of veteran Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso, who will collaborate with Mamon in handing the men’s team.
Veloso is the third renowned Brazilian coach who were sent to the country by the FIVB under its national team development program. He will join Jorge Edson Souza de Brito (women’s volleyball) and Joao Luciano Koidai (beach volleyball).
Suzara said the composition of the national women’s pool will be announced soon after which its members will fly also to Osaka in April for their training camp with the Himeji Victoria club. The beach volleyball teams, Suzara added, are bound for Brazil also in April for their own training camp.