ABY Marano won’t be able to play for the Philippines in the 2015 Asian Under-23 Women’s Volleyball Championship to be hosted by Manila from May 1-9.
The former La Salle skipper was part of the 14-woman pool drawn up by Roger Gorayeb and Sammy Acaylar, but the national coach confirmed to Spin.ph on Friday that Marano was rendered ineligible due to a technicality.
Under the rules and regulations of the Under-23 tournament, only players born on or after January 1, 1993 are eligible to play in the tournament. Marano was born on December 22, 1992.
“Must be born on or after January 1, 1993, so wala na (chance si Aby),” said the veteran mentor.
Marano, therefore, was born nine days early to be eligible for the tournament.
[See Valdez, Marano, Santiago sisters named to PH pool for Asian Under-23 wars]
Ateneo Lady Eagles libero Denden Lazaro was earlier reported to have been stricken out of the lineup due to the same age rule. Lazaro, 23, was born on January 21, 1992.
Marano's disqualification came as a dampener for fans who had long awaited her team-up with a former rival from Ateneo, Alyssa Valdez.
UAAP back-to-back MVP Valdez will now lead the team that also has Ateneo middle blocker Bea de Leon and setter Jia Morado, Santiago sisters Dindin and Jaja, UAAP Rookie of the Year awardee EJ Laure, UAAP best blocker Ria Meneses, La Salle setter Kim Fajardo, Alyssa Eroa, Myla Pablo, Kim Fajardo, Tin Agno and Christine Rosario.
[See Gorayeb on volleyball leadership scrap: 'Players' loyalty should be to country, not to association']
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
