Jude Garcia has joined training sessions for Alas Pilipinas men’s national volleyball team as the squad begins preparations for its busy international calendar.
According to Tonyboy Liao, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni has already started holding practices with invited players even though the final national pool has yet to be announced.
“They started training last Monday but Coach Angiolino has been inviting a roster of players,” Liao told the Inquirer as Alas Pilipinas prepares for the upcoming SEA V.League in Candon this July and the second leg in Indonesia.
Garcia, a five-time Spikers’ Turf Conference MVP who is expected to receive his second straight season MVP award, highlighted the early training sessions alongside several UAAP and NCAA standouts.
The Criss Cross King Crunchers star recently led his club to back-to-back championships and previously said he wanted to return to national team duty after prioritizing family commitments last year. A former beach volleyball national team member, Garcia has excelled as both an opposite hitter and outside hitter in the club scene.
Liao added that players from NU Bulldogs are expected to join training next week, including Alas mainstays Leo Ordiales, Buds Buddin, Jade Disquitado, Peng Taguibolos and setter Greg Ancheta.
Also invited were standouts from Far Eastern University Tamaraws, including Mikko Espartero, Lirick Mendoza and Vennie Ceballos.
Among those already attending training are Alas veterans Lloyd Josafat, Al-Bukharie Sali and Vince Lorenzo, together with players from Ateneo Blue Eagles, De La Salle Green Spikers, UST Golden Spikers and UP Fighting Maroons.
Meanwhile, overseas-based stars Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo remain committed to their clubs in Japan and Taiwan, respectively, while Owa Retamar recently signed with Cambodian club Visakha FC.
Three-time UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez has asked for additional rest following a demanding Season 88 campaign in which he led UST to a bronze-medal finish.
