UAAP stars Deanna Wong, Maddie Madayag, Isa Molde and Tots Carlos were supposed to be part of the Under-23 women’s national team for the 2019 Thailand Open but had to beg of for varying reasons.
U-23 head coach KungFu Reyes bared that he had talks with Ateneo on the availability of Wong and Madayag for the team bound for the July 4 to 10 showpiece, to be bannered by team captain Celine Domingo and UAAP girls’ MVP Angel Canino.
“We talked to Ateneo, okay naman sila, problema lang talaga, hindi lang natin pwedeng i-sacrifice yung health ng mga taong gusto natin,” said Reyes
Wong attended the training of both the U-23 and women’s national team last week but sustained an unspecified injury. Madayag, on the other hand, has not been game fit since helping lead Ateneo to the UAAP Season 81 title.
“Supposedly, sila Deanna Wong, um-okay na kaso naka-cast na siya e,” Reyes said. “Meron siyang therapy sa shin niya ata 'yun o kung ano mang injury niya, hindi pwede pero gusto ng bata.”
“Yung willingness nila Maddie, gusto nila maglaro. Problema naman, siyempre coming from UAAP, hindi rin fit to play dahil wala ng ensayo,” he added.
U-23 pool skipper Isa Molde and Tots Carlos together with Marist Layug were unavailable as Motolite is still in the hunt for a semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Reinforced Conference.
In the same predicament were vastly-improved setter Alina Bicar and middle blocker Jeanette Villareal, who are playing for semis contenders Pacifictown-Army and BanKo, respectively.
Also part of the U-23 pool but not available due to the ongoing Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference are Marinerang Pilipina’s Judith Abil, Foton’s Justine Dorog, Petron’s Buding Duremdes and Generika-Ayala’s Mean Mendrez.
“Ongoing yung lahat ng games. Hindi naman sila normal na player na pwede mong alisin anytime kasi mga role player din so naintindihan mo rin yung part na yun,” Reyes said.
The U-23 coach is still confident with the title chances of a team that also has Mafe Galanza, Lyn Galdones, Ysa Jimenez, Maji Mangulabnan, Rachelle Roldan, Imee Hernandez, Janna Torres, Ivana Agudo Lyann De Guzman, Roselyn Rosier, Jewel Encarnacion and Justine Jazareno.
“Maganda yung condition ng katawan. Iisa naman halos yung sistema ng mga coaches kaya kapag pinagsama-sama mo, parang ang tagal ng magkakasama,” Reyes said. “It’s a matter of jelling na lang pero sa ensayo namin, maganda na yung transition.”
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