BACOLOD City – Ilongga Zacchea Venize Maganto has been included in the national U-17 girls volleyball squad competing in 14th Asian Women’s U-17 Volleyball Championships this June in Uzbekistan.
According to team manager Jose Montalbo, the Maasin, Iloilo middle blocker made a good impression during the by invitation tryout on Wednesday.
“We already heard a lot of good things about Zacchea and her recent tryout with us validated all of that, and she is a great fit to the team,” Montalbo told Panay News on Thursday.
“Actually, we invited two players from Iloilo City for the tryout but the other one opted not to proceed for some reasons. So our national team pool is now complete,” he added.
The 5-foot-10 Maganto is a member of the Central Philippine University girls volleyball team. She was reportedly being eyed by a UAAP-based school but did not accept the offer.
Maganto is joining Celine Marsh of Trinity Christian School, Rain Navarro of St. John’s Institute-Bacolod, Camila Bartolome of Huasiong College of Iloilo, and Mary Karylle Suplico of La Paz National High School in the team.
The rest of the 14-player roster include Bacolod Tay Tung High School standouts Kimberly Rubin, Dona Mae De Leon, Lana Madrigal, Jothea Ramos, Joenil Ramos, Caitlin Espinosa, Rhose Viane Almendralejo, Kc Delos Reyes, and Ana Hermosura.
Veteran bench tactician Jerry Yee has been named as the head coach with Ian Macariola and Roberto “Biboy” Calamba as his assistants, Anthony Blasi and Sheryl Laborte as trainers and Miguel Guevarra as conditioning coach.
“We are thankful to coach Jerry for agreeing to coach this young players,” Montalbo said. “We know he is the best person for the job of developing the abilities of our young volleybelles.”
Yee is an experienced volleyball coach who currently handles Petro Gazz Angels, College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers and Hope Christian High School.
Yee also served as head coach for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons before, steering the team to a Final Four finish in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball./PN
