Umandal, Intal banner national men’s volley pool

MANILA, Philippines — With an eye of reclaiming its place in the Southeast Asian Games podium, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation yesterday named the 15-man pool for the Phnom Penh Games this May.

The squad will be spearheaded by Joshua Umandal and Rex Intal, the remaining members of the team that snared a historic SEA Games silver in Manila four years ago.

The other pool members are Jade Disquitado, Lloyd Josafat, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, Vince Lorenzo, Jay Rack de la Noche, Madzlan Gampong, Kim Dayandante, Jelex Mendiola, Vince Mangulabnan, Edward Camposano, Jayvee Sumagaysay and Noel Kampton.

The national federation named the pool members ahead of their departure for training in Chinese Taipei.

“This partnership with the Chinese Taipei Volleyball Association, through its secretary-general Chan Jing-Jong, is just part of the various deals or joint programs that the PNVF has forged with our foreign counterparts,” said PNVF president Ramon Suzara.

“It’s a mix of young and veteran players but I’m also planning to include five more players in the pool,” said coach Odjie Mamon. “This training exchange program is very important to our SEA Games campaign.”

The men’s pool will have another training camp with the top-tier V.League Division I team Panasonic Panthers in April in Osaka, Japan.