Filipina volleyball stars to test fate in Korean Volleyball League

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Six Filipina volleyball superstars will be looking to test the waters of the international scene after trying out for the Korean Volleyball League confirmed last March 26, 2023.

Headlining the list of aspiring Asian volleyball imports are Majoy Baron, Iris Tolenada, MJ Phillips, Jia Morado-De Guzman, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, and Mylene Paat.

The six tested and proven stars already passed their tryout intents after sending personal video recordings of themselves to the Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO).

Baron, the current middle blocker of the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, is already nearing her full healthy status after getting derailed by a couple of injuries during the past two Premier Volleyball League (PVL) conferences.

The former Philippine national team staple initially received an offer to play as an import in the Top Seed Volleyball Club in Taiwan but the tournament had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic last 2021.

Meanwhile, the duo of Manabat and Paat already proved themselves as valuable imports on the international stage after showing out during the 2021-2022 Volleyball Thailand League.

Both stars signed with the Nakhon Ratchasima volleyball club last year and formed a solid 1-2 punch in the professional league.

Meanwhile, Tolenada, Phillips, and De Guzman will have the chance to clinch their first-ever stints as international Asian imports if their applications will be approved by the KOVO.

The big day of announcing the picked Asian imports will be on April 21 via an online ceremony to be hosted by KOVO.

Aside from the women category, KOVO also invited PHL men’s team superstars Marck Espejo, JP Bugaoan, Manuel Sumanguid, and Jau Umandal.