IN all likelihood, Alyssa Valdez will be included in the women’s national pool of the Philippine team for a series of international tournaments this year.
The Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) is set to name the members of the national pool on Tuesday, after a meeting between national head coaches Francis Vicente (women’s) and Sammy Acaylar (men’s) meet and federation officials finalize the composition of the teams on Monday.
Although the coaches, particularly Vicente, have been mum on the composition of the women’s national pool, volleyball officials said Valdez is a shoo-in.
“There is no way she won't be included,” said a high-ranking official who asked not to be named, pending the official announcement of the composition of the team.
Valdez is currently out of the country as she is part of the 3BB Nakornnont that is competing in the Thai league, but went out of her way recently to join the Davao leg of the tryouts.
Valdez’s participation in the Davao tryouts practically sealed her slot in the national pool.
While Valdez’s inclusion in the national pool seemed an easy decision, coaches are expected to have a difficult time on who to pick from the other players who joined the tryouts.
In the first day of the Manila tryouts alone, 37 players showed up at the Arellano gym, among them some of the biggest names from the collegiate and commercial ranks.
“Coaches will definitely be having a hard time because a lot of players answered to the call of joining the national team,” said the official.