The Philippine Air Force had been a household name in the Spikers’ Turf before the pandemic happened.
The Airmen – previously called Jet Spikers – were part of the first-ever conference of the country’s men’s premier league back in 2015.
From 2015 up until 2019, Air Force never missed the podium even in the years that the Spikers’ Turf became the Premier Volleyball League Men’s Division for three conferences.
During that period, the Airmen collected four championships, four silvers, and two bronzes.
Notable names from those medal-winning squads include now-Air Force coaches Jeff Malabanan and Jessie Lopez; Bryan Bagunas, Howard Mojica, Reuben Inaudito, Kim Malabunga, and Francis Saura.
Still, in the team’s lineup this 2024 Open Conference that has earned awards during the heyday of Air Force are Ranran Abdilla, Edwin Tolentino, and JR Labrador.
Now an assistant coach for the Airmen, Lopez’s dream is to see Air Force back on top of the table after concluding the ongoing conference with a 2-6 record in seventh place.
“At least ngayon nakikita na namin na may future sila kasi mga bata galing collegiate, dito syempre sa Spikers’ Turf medyo ang labanan dito pangulangan na talaga mga experienced na talaga,” said Lopez as the Airmen included young recruits in their roster this season.
“Step by step kami hanggang makabalik ulit kami sa tuktok ng Spikers’ Turf kasi namimiss ko rin na makita yung Air Force na nandoon lagi sa one and two,” added the setter-turned-coach.
This conference, Air Force added young guns Pol Salvador, Louis Lumanlan, Herald Domingo, Bryan Jaleco, Marco Maclang, Ahmad Abdul, and James Buytrago to the fold.
Jaleco became one of the Airmen’s bright spots in their otherwise subpar season, being the league’s fourth-best scorer after April 26 with 123 total points, trailing just superstars Jude Garcia, Jau Umandal, and Joeven Dela Vega.
“Alam naman ng karamihan na yung Air Force team pioneer team dito sa Spikers’ Turf so ako namimiss ko yun kasi player pa ako noon,” said Lopez.
“Ngayon as a coach na, syempre ang main goal namin ni Coach Jeff Malabanan ibalik yung Air Force sa taas.”
Lopez, however, understands that result would not be overnight for this young Air Force squad.
And regardless of the long process, Lopez and Malabanan’s coaching duo vow to do their all until the Airmen return to their winner status.
“It takes time. Syempre system yan. Volleyball naman is all about system and syempre yung progress.”
