Jaja Santiago, 15 others attend nat'l volleyball team tryouts

Jaja Santiago and 15 other players heeded the call of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) for the national team tryouts which started on Wednesday in Subic, Zambales.

According to the PNVF, among those who attended the tryouts are Southeast Asian Games players Aby Maraño, Majoy Baron, Myleen Paat, and Eya Laure, veteran players Iris Tolenada, Ria Meneses, Dell Palomata, and collegiate standouts Kamille Cal, Mhicaela Belen, Ivy Lacsina, Alyssa Solomon, Jennifer Nierva, Faith Nisperos, Imee Hernandez and Bernadette Pepito.

A total of 40 players were invited for the women's indoor volleyball tryout.

However, many of those who begged off from the tryout cited health and safety reasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Most of the reasons are COVID-19 related. The players that begged off are players of PVL club teams that are now having bubble training," PNVF national team commission Tonyboy Liao said in a message to GMA News Online.

"If they go out of their bubble training, attend the tryouts for a day, then return to the bubble training, the returning players should go for a swab test and quarantine for seven days. This will [have] a big effect for the PVL club teams that have a lot of players being invited in the tryouts," he added.

Kalei Mau announced on Tuesday she would not be able to join due to travel restrictions as she will join a team in Puerto Rico. PNVF said MJ Philips was not able to join as one of the staff from her club Sta. Lucia tested positive for the virus. Aside from the two, reports said Alyssa Valdez also begged off from the tryout.

PNVF said the participants observed safety protocols while inside the tryouts venue and they immediately headed back to Manila via quarantine buses after the exercises.

The men's team will have their tryouts on Thursday, while beach volleyball will start on Friday. —JMB, GMA News