IT’S official: Ramil de Jesus is the new head coach of the Philippine women’s volleyball team.
The coach who led La Salle to 10 UAAP championships made his return to national team duty, 13 years after standing at the helm of the last Philippine side to win a medal in the Southeast Asian Games.
“Nandito tayo ngayon para sa iisang team,” de Jesus, who led the Philippines to a volleyball bronze in 2005 SEA Games in Manila, said on Friday during the tryout.
Cha Cruz-Behag, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, CJ Rosario, MJ Phillips and Rebecca Rivera were among the early birds for the 5 p.m. call time for the tryouts held at the Arellano Gym in Legarda, Manila.
Also present were Aby Maraño, Jaja Santiago, Mylene Paat, Kim Dy, Majoy Baron, Dawn Macandili, Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo, Mel Gohing, Sisi Rondina and Maika Ortiz.
Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado were the last to arrive.
De Jesus thanked everyone who came and asked for their cooperation as he forms the roster expected to see action in the Asian Games in Indonesia in August, the AVC Asian Women’s Seniors in Thailand in September and the 30th SEA Games in Manila next year.
“Hindi ko naman magagawa ‘to kung wala ang suporta ninyo,” he said.
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