With the 30th Southeast Asian Games already in the books, national team members have already gone back to their respective mother teams in preparation for a new and bigger season of the Philippine Superliga next year.
F2 Logistics middle blocker Aby Maraño of F2 Logistics heads the cast of national team members who returned to their mother teams in the PSL following a successful participation in the biennial meet that formally came to a close last week.
Also setting their sights on the new PSL season were are Mika Reyes, Rhea Dimaculangan, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Frances Molina of Petron, Mylene Paat and Jovelyn Gonzaga of Cignal, Kath Arado of Generika-Ayala, and Majoy Baron and Dawn Macandili of F2 Logistics.
Eya Laure, the youngest player on the squad, will also see action for Foton right after fulfilling her duty as student-athlete for University of Santo Tomas in the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines season.
PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico was satisfied with the performance of the PSL players in the national squad, who represented the country well despite failing on its mission of coming up with their first ever medal since clinching the bronze in the 23rd edition of the Games in Bacolod City.
Juico said the league will continue supporting the national cause to boost the growth of the sport in the country.
“The PSL players represented the country well,” said Juico, whose own federation —the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association—came up with one of its best finishes ever with 11 gold medals.
“We’re so proud of how they performed and how they represented the country in a major international competition such as the Southeast Asian Games. Rest assured that the league would continue supporting the national team program to help the growth of volleyball in the country.”
The PSL will open its season with the PSL Grand Prix in the third week of February followed by the PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup and All-Star Game in June.
Come July, the league will stage its All-Filipino Conference followed by a proposed Super Cup in December, where three PSL clubs will clash with a foreign team.
“Despite having a packed schedule for next year, the PSL still remains committed to the national team program,” said Juico, adding that other PSL clubs like Sta. Lucia, Marinerang Pilipina and PLDT Home Fibr would be ready to lend players if needed.
“We will be waiting for instructions from the federation (Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas). If ever it need help, we will be ready to support.”