The Philippine Men’s National Volleyball Team exceeded expectations in the 30th Southeast Asian Games after winning a historic silver medal last Tuesday.
As part of their continued commitment to strengthening the National Team, the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc. will sit down with the men’s coaching staff to iron out their long-term plans.
And yes, besides a new training schedule, LVPI is looking to give the squad more international exposure for next year.
“Magmee-meet kami siguro third week of January, plot natin buong taon,” said LVPI President Peter Cayco.
The Filipino spikers were able to win the hearts of the volleyball community after a gallant stand in the regional biennial meet.
Posting a 2-1 win-loss record in the group stage, the Philippine team scored a huge upset after booting out defending champ Thailand in five sets in the semifinal round, denying them a fifth straight title.
Despite falling to a battle-tested Indonesian squad in the finale, the Nationals still made history. They ended a 28-year medal drought behind the hard-hitting duo of Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo.
“Overachieving, overachieving ‘yan.
“‘Di ba ang target namin maka-medal lang? People didn’t believe na ang men’s ang magkaka-medal, so I said, tignan niyo, we’ll pull some surprises,” said Cayco.
The Dante Alinsunurin-coached squad trained vigorously for eight months. They kick-started their preparations by joining the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference last May. The Nationals then joined the Sealect Tuna championships in Thailand, before capping things off with a 16-day training camp in Japan.
“’Yun ang hinihiling din namin na magtuluy-tuloy ang team na mag-training.
“Kasi importante talaga sa amin ‘yun lalo na nagsisimula pa lang kami. Siyempre gusto talaga naming i-angat ang laro namin. Kailangan talaga namin na January mag-start na kami. Sana tuluy-tuloy na talaga,” said Alinsunurin.
