THREE-time UAAP MVP Marck Espejo was the biggest name missing as former fellow collegiate MVPs Peter Torres, Mark Alfafara, Johnvic De Guzman, and Howard Mojica led the 25 players named to the Philippine men’s volleyball pool by the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc.
The announcement was made by LVPI officials along with head coach Sammy Acaylar during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel.
Torres, Alfafara, De Guzman, and Mojica were joined by fellow big hitters Rey Taneo of Perpetual Help, Alnakran Abdilla of Philippine Air Force, Dave Cabaron of Southwestern University, Lorenzo Capate of Cignal, Bonjomar Castel of Cignal, Reyson Fuentes of Air Force, Herschel Ramos of Meralco, and John Paul Bugaoan.
Also included were John Carscal of SWU, Eddiemar Kasim of La Salle-Dasmarinas, Esmail Kasim of La Salle Dasmarinas, Petejohn Quiel of Far Eastern University, Anjo Pertiera of Mapua, and Jeff Malabanan of Air Force.
[See Vicente struggles to explain Morado non-inclusion in PH team pool]
Torres, who played for National University, won the Season 73 MVP and Season 75 Finals MVP in the UAAP, while Alfafara claimed the MVP in Season 75 for University of Santo Tomas.
De Guzman took home the NCAA MVP crown in the just-concluded Season 92, while Mojica is a two-time winner of the NCAA's top individual award before moving to Air Force in the club level.
The setters on the pool are Mark Deximo of CSB, Relan Taneo of Perpetual Help, John Paul Sarcena of La Salle, and Geuel Asia of La Salle, while the liberos are Louwie Chaves, Jack Kalingking, and Ericson Ramos.
From the pool, 12 players will be selected to take part in the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia this August.