Valdez, Marano team up for Asian Under-23 volley

MANILA, Philippines - For years, Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez and La Salle’s Abby Marano have fought each other in one of the country’s bitterest rivalries in collegiate volleyball. Now they have a chance to play side by side.

Valdez and Marano were the biggest names in the initial list released yesterday by the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, Inc. that will form the core of the national team seeing action in the Asian Under-23 Championship this May and the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore this June.

Also in the pool are Ateneo spiker Bea de Leon and setter Jia Morada and La Salle setter Kim Fajardo.

“These players are now representing the country and not their schools anymore,” said LVPI president Joey Romasanta.

Marano is a decorated player, having helped the Lady Archers win four UAAP championships before losing to Valdez and the Lady Eagles in the former’s final season a year ago.

Valdez, along with de Leon and Morado, powered Ateneo to a back-to-back by beating a Fajardo-led La Salle side in completing a historic sweep.

Also named to the squad were San Sebastian’s Gretchel Soltones, Marivic Meneses and Alyssa Eroa, University of Santo Tomas’ EJ Laure, Far Eastern University’s Christine Agno, Arellano U’s CJ Rosario and National U’s Myla Pablo.

Many-time Shakey’s V-League MVPs Aiza Maizo and Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rhea Dimaculangan were also named to the pool but will most likely play in the SEAG since they’re not under-23 anymore.

Romasanta also announced Ateneo’s Thai coach Tai Bundit will help national team coach Roger Gorayeb and assistant Sammy Acaylar as consultant.

“Coach Tai was gracious enough to volunteer in helping coach Roger and Sammy in the team,” said Romasanta.

Romasanta said the team is expected to start training in April in the country before going to Japan for another round of preparation.