Philippines set to compete in Thailand for overseas volleyball

Creamline representing the Philippines in the ASEAN Grand Prix

Fresh from their sixth place finish for the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women, Creamline is set to represent the Philippines again in international competition, as they head to Thailand to take part in the 2nd ASEAN Grand Prix this weekend at Nakhon Ratchasima.

The first edition of the Grand Prix saw the Philippines finish with a bronze medal after two legs in Nakhon Ratchasima and Santa Rosa.

Familiar opposition from the aforementioned AVC Cup for Women looms, as they face hosts Thailand on Friday night at 7pm, followed by Vietnam on Saturday afternoon at 4pm. Their campaign ends against Indonesia at 4pm on Sunday.

With Alyssa Valdez sidelined for this tournament, Jia de Guzman leads the way with a virtually intact roster from a sixth place finish at the AVC Cup, with Risa Sato being the major new addition.

Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao are tasked to continue their scoring exploits, with Celine Domingo and Jeanette Panaga serving as the main frontline defense while Kyla Atienza and Ella de Jesus serve as floor defense essentials.

Sherwin Meneses remains as the head coach, with Karlo Santos and Bok Morado as his assistants and Mark Caron handling strength and conditioning.

Also headed to Thailand are Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dij Rodriguez, and Gen Eslapor, who are headed to Roi-et for two beach volleyball competitions: the AVC Asian Beach Tour Roi-et Open on September 10-12, followed by the AVC Senior Women's Beach Volleyball Championship.

Eslapor last competed overseas in March, where she and Nene Bautista claimed the bronze medal in the Women's Challenger Division in the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour at Coolangatta Beach. The others are competing abroad for the first time since representing the country in the SEA Games at Vietnam back in May.

The Roi-et Open features 22 tandems, with AVC Championship involves 32 of them.

Coaching our beach volleybelles are Paul Jan Doloiras as head coach and Romnick Rico as the assistant coach.