National training director and PSC Chief of Staff Marc Velasco clarified on Sunday night that the Philippine volleyball teams have not yet begun their training amid some news on mass infections at Teachers’ Camp in Baguio. 

Velasco added that no national volleyball athletes were present in Baguio right now, confirming that they will begin their bubble training on Thursday, July 1 in Laoag.

“Today, we noticed stories in North Luzon region news outfits about national volleyball athletes testing positive while training in the PSC facilities in Baguio. The PSC would like to inform that the national volleyball team is not training in PSC Baguio,” Velasco bared. 

“The planned bubble training for some members of the national team is scheduled for July 1,” he added.

The news sparked after Baguio City mayor Benjamin Magalong claimed national athletes contracted the disease after they “sneaked out” of Teachers’ Cam which saw eight players and some policemen got infected. 

This was reputed by Velasco as the athletes being referred to might be professional volleyball players, particularly part of the BanKo Perlas squad which chose Baguio as the site of its bubble training ahead of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season. 

“The team which some outfits named in their stories play in a professional volleyball league. As such, the PSC referred the matter to the Games and Amusement Board for requisite monitoring,” Velasco averred.

Meanwhile, Aby Marano, a member of the national pool, also denied the report in a tweet.

“Hindi pa nag-start national team training ng women’s volleyball. Hindi rin sa Baguio ang bubble training namin. Wala pong may COVID sa team,” the former De La Salle Lady spiker said.