MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons hitter Alyssa Bertolano got an invite to join the national women’s volleyball team that will compete in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup 2022 this August.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation wrote UP for the availability of the Talisay City, Negros Occidental-native for the tournament slated from August 21 to 26 to be hosted by the Philippines.
“We write to respectfully request your support by allowing (Bertolano) to participate in the national team training,” PNVF president Ramon Suzara said in a letter addressed to UP.
The 5-foot-7 Bertolano has showed promise on her rookie year by leading the way in offense for the Fighting Maroons in the just-concluded UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament.
This will be the first time for the former Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts girls volleyball team standout to play for flag and country in the international competition.
“Eversince I started playing volleyball, it was really my dream to play for Team Philippines so this PNVF invitation is a realization of that,” Bertolano told Panay News on Tuesday.
“Before, I only represented our province (Western Visayas) in national leagues but now I am set to represent my country,” she added. “At first, I am surprised to be chosen but at the same time excited to hit the ground running.”
The Negrense volleybelle vowed to give her 100 percent in practices and in actual games “so that I can pay back to the trust given to me by sir Tats (Suzara).”
Thunderbolts team manager Jose Montalbo, for his part, expressed elation to PNVF for the invitation extended to Bertolano to the national volleyball team.
“I am personally happy for Alyssa because I saw her grow as a volleyball player. All the hard work and sacrifices she has done since her first day with Tay Tung has paid off,” Montalbo said.
“She will be a great addition to the national team because she is a very coachable. She always do the extra work to improve her skills further,” he added./PN
