Four Filipino players were cleared to play by the Thai Department of Disease Control early Saturday.
As a result, Aby Maraño, Dindin Santiago-Mansbat, Eya Laure, and Ivy Lacsina will be joining Team Rebisco in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Asian Club Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, starting Saturday.
“This is very good news especially for the players who have sacrificed a lot and dedicated themselves to the national team ever since the federation kicked off the program in April,” Philippine National Volleyball Federation President Ramon “Tats” Suzara said.
Philippine team coaches Odjie Mamon (Choco Mucho) and Brazilian consultant/coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito (Rebisco) needed to improvise at the start of competitions on Friday and moved Kianna Dy and Majoy Baron to shore up Team Rebisco’s lineup.
The four will be in Rebisco uniforms when the team plays Iran’s Saipa at 4 p.m. (Manila time) Saturday, with Dy and Baron staying with the team.
“FIVB rules state that you could no longer transfer players once a tournament starts, therefore the four ladies will return to Rebisco with the two players from Choco Mucho staying with the team of Coach Jorge,” Suzara said.
Choco Mucho held fort but yielded to home team Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC, 11-25, 26-28, 17-25, whole Rebisco bowed to Kazakhstan’s Altay, 23-25, 13-25, 17-25.
Choco Mucho was scheduled to play Zhetyssu of Kazakhstan on Saturday.
The Philippine teams’ participation in their first international competition during the pandemic is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco, Taguig City and Asics.