NU stars remain in volley pool

MANILA, Philippines —  NU standouts Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon are expected to join the national volleyball squad in the last three events of the year after sitting out the recent AVC Challenge Cup.

“Belen and Solomon are still in the pool with UST’s (Detdet) Pepito and CSB’s (Zam) Nolasco and (Gayle) Pascual,” said national team and PVL chairman Tonyboy Liao. “At first, their team manager told us they could join the Challenge Cup after the UAAP Finals but due to injuries and studies, it was suggested that they join in the last three events this year which are the FIVB Challenge Cup in Manila in July and two Southeast Asian (SEA) V-Leagues in Vietnam and Thailand in August.”

Liao confirmed that Jorge De Brito will end his term as national women’s coach next month. His replacement is another Brazilian Sergio Velasco who moves from the men’s to the women’s squad. Taking over from Velasco is Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni who will call the shots for the men’s team in the FIVB World Championships in Manila next year. “Frigoni was the former head coach of the Italian women’s team at the World Grand Prix and his players included (Maurizia) Cacciatori and (Francesca) Piccinini,” said Liao. “He also coached the Netherlands national women’s team. Coach Sergio will meet with me to discuss if the present pool will be maintained or he will add or reduce some players. Creamline players in the pool are (Tots) Carlos and (Jema) Galanza. Only two players from each club will be enlisted, provided they’re not in the same playing position.”

Frigoni, 70, coached the Italian national women’s team to ninth place at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Aside from the Italian and Dutch national teams, he also called the shots for Egypt’s men squad. In 2021, he piloted the Italian U21 men’s team to the world championship.