(Contributed photo)
MANILA – National training director Marc Velasco clarified on Sunday night that the Philippine volleyball teams have not yet begun their training amid some reports over the weekend that some members of the women's team have contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Velasco denied that the women's team is in Baguio City at the moment as Mayor Benjamin Magalong confirmed that some volleybelles were tested positive for the disease in their recent tests.
"The PSC would like to inform that the national volleyball team is not training in PSC Baguio," Velasco said.
As it turns out, the said spikers are part of the BanKo Perlas delegation which chose Baguio as the site of its bubble training ahead of the upcoming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
Magalong revealed that eight of the players were positive for Covid-19, although he did not disclose who the players are.
"As such, the PSC referred the matter to the Games and Amusement Board for requisite monitoring," Velasco added.
Meantime, Velasco confirmed that the national volleyball teams will begin their bubble training on Thursday, right on the first day of July.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) will hold the bubble training in Laoag as part of the national teams' upcoming events.
The women's team will host the AVC Women's Seniors Championships this August, while the men's team will travel to Japan for the male tournament.
Interestingly enough, the PVL is also looking to open its new season in Laoag.
League president Ricky Palou said the PVL might begin its bubble season on July 17.
The new season will be the PVL's first season as a full-fledged professional league.
The PNVF earlier said that it might take a look at the PVL to scout the players who were invited to the Philippine women's team tryouts but begged off in hopes of completing the training pool. (PNA)
