Spiker Kalei Mau granted Philippine citizenship as PH rep for national team

FILE: “Intense eyes. Tickets available at any SM tickets branch or online!” (Photo: @philippinesuperliga/Instagram)

Filipino-American volleyball star Kalei Mau has officially received her Philippine passport, which brings her one step closer to her dreams of playing for the country’s women’s national volleyball team.

The 23-year-old, who is known for being a member of the United Volleyball Club (VC) in the Philippine Superliga (PSL), announced last Tuesday, March 5 on her social media account that she is now a dual citizen.

In order to complete her documentation to be able to legally play for the country, she needs her papers transferred from the USA federation to Larong Volleyball Sa Pilipinas, Inc.

Mau shared her delight with Spin.ph, saying, “I think nothing’s gonna stand in the way of me achieving my dream of playing at the highest level, the highest stage of volleyball for the national team of the Philippines will be the SEA games.” 

Originally from Hawaii, the spiker was one of the standouts during the national team tryouts last January 24 and 25, the 20-pool lineup to be announced by the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) on Friday, March 7. National team head coach Shaq Delos Santos has yet to confirm if Mau has made the cut, but also told Spin.

ph, “She’s really willing to play for us so that’s a big factor because that’s what we really saw in her when she played. I think she just needs to adapt to our system. She’s really someone we can rely on.”

When talking about her pursuit in participating at the SEA Games for Team Philippines, the excited athlete adds, “I want something out of it. I don’t just want the fame and I don’t play just for the money. I want something more fulfilling, the closest thing that reminds my heart and I wanna represent this country.

”