Half of the 16-woman Banko Perlas Spikers that are in bubble training at the Saint Vincent gym since June 1 tested positive for Covid-19, Benjamin Magalong announced Friday.
The team was the third cluster in the recent surge of Covid-19 cases in the city, the mayor announced in a special press conference at his office Friday afternoon.
The team backstopped by team captain Nicole Anne Tiamzon arrived in the city last June 1 for their one month bubble training at the Saint Vincent Gym in preparation for the start of the Philippine Volleyball League bubble at a date yet to be announced by the newly formed Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).
Magalong told media Friday afternoon that the eight were among the three new clustering of Covid 19 surges that include 98 of 197 Philippine National Police officers on training at the Regional Training Center and 50 call center agents inside Camp John Hay.
The cops and call center agents have been quarantined and isolated, added Magalong.
Magalong said that lapses and poor implementation of the city’s guidelines were neglected and/or violated according to investigation.
Mangaywan, which operates Porta Vaga and the Saint Vincent Commercial area including the gym, said the team has stopped training since last week and will resume once they complete their isolation and quarantine.
The team chose Baguio “because they have all the facilities available for us to prepare properly for the upcoming conference,” Perlas owner Charo Soriano was quoted as saying in a news earlier.
Prior their arrival, the members of the team underwent RT-PCR tests and awaited the result before they started their training.
The Games and Amusement Board inspected the venue prior the team’s arrival, a requirement set by the body for teams wanting to go bubble training.
In the same story, Soriano added: “We then had to comply with GAB requirements like the letter of request, team health and safety protocols and the inspection of our training venue and accommodation. After which, we coordinated with the Baguio City Sports office as well as the Health Services Office and submitted the requirement on their end.”
The team include former University of the Philippines standout Katherine Bersola and Jhoana Louisse Maraguinot, former member of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, winner of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines Season 77 volleyball title.
Another team, F2 Logistics has been eyeing Baguio for its bubble training. City sports coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales said, however, the team has no standing request for bubble training.
The PVL is expected to have 12 teams and was supposed to be staged at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, known as Calambubble but has been on hold since April.
Meanwhile, the national squad that include stars Abigail Marano, Dindin Santiago – Manabat and Baguio lass Majoy Baron has already arrived in Ilocos Norte to start their bubble training.
The team will be joining the men’s national team and the beach volleyball squads in the province where they will officially hold their bubble training. The beach volley team have been training at the Saud Beach in Pugudpud, recently named one of the top 25 beaches.
The national volleyball teams, who will bubble train at the Centennial Arena in the capital town of Laoag, are expected to see action also in the Asian Senior Women’s Championships on August 29 to September 5 in Pampanga for the women and September 12 to 19 in Chiba, Japan for the men..
The national team culled by the Philippine Olympic Committee recognized PNVF from the different volleyball teams seeing action in the PVL and schools and under head coach Arthur Mamon.
Aside from Santiago Manabat (Cherry Tiggo Pro Crossovers) and the Baguio City High School alum Baron (F2 Logistics Cargo Movers), the other members are: Frances Xinia Molina (Petro Gazz Angels), Tyler-Marie Kalei mau (Changos de Narajito), Katrina Mae Tolentino (Choco Mucho Flying Titans), Myla Pablo (Petro Gazz), Kim Katrina Dy (F2 Logistics), the 6’5” Jaja Santiago (Saitama Ageo Medics of Japan), Isabel Beatriz de Leon (Choco Mucho), Maristele Gene Layug (PLDT Home Fibr Hitters), Marivic Velaine Meneses (Petro Gazz), Risa Sato (Creamline Cool Smashers), Jasmine Nabor (F2 Logisitcs), Julia Melissa Morado (Creamline), Kim Fajardo (F2 Logisitcs), Rhea Katrina Dimaculangan (PLDT), Taira Ke’Alohilani Robins-Hardy (Cginal HD Spikers), Deninise Michelle Lazaro – Revilla (Choco Mucho), Kathleen Faith Arado (Petro Gazz) and former University of Baguio player Mylene Paat (Cherry Tiggo).
College players with the national team are: Angel Anne Canino and Thea Allison Gagate (De La Salle University), Faith Jasmine Nisperos (Ateneo), Ivy Keith Lacsina, Mhicaela Belen, Kamille Angelica Cal, Jennifer Nierva and Alyssa Jae Solomon (National University), Ejiya Laure and Imee Kim Gabriela Hernandez (University of Santo Tomas), Lorene Grace Toring (Adamson University) and Maria Bernadette Pepito (UST High School).
