After their semifinals-clinching victory against Vietnam, National team head coach Dante Alinsunurin rallied his troops and urged them to stay focused on the task hand — snatching the top honors in the Southeast Asian Games men’s volleyball tournament.
“Sa gold sobrang hirap talagang makuha, pero nandito na kami. Nandito na kami. Pagbubutihan namin sa practice and ang pag-scout sa kanila, [at] kung ano pa ang dapat na gawin namin, anong kulang namin, anong adjustment namin,” said Alinsunurin, following the Philippines’ straight-set rout of the Vietnamese side.
“Sabi ko 1991 pa huling nag-third place ang men’s team. Kasi noong time na naglalaro ako, never kaming nanalo sa isang team sa SEA Games.”
For the decorated tactician, though, the real acid test will start on Friday when the Filipino spikers face off against Indonesia for the top spot in Pool B.
A win for the Philippines will help them avoid Asian powerhouse and defending champion Thailand — who is poised to take the first seed in Pool A — in the crossover semifinals.
“Una, siyempre kailangan makuha namin [ang panalo] para makaiwas kami sa Thailand. Importante lang talaga ang gagawin namin sa paglaro sa Indonesia and dapat ready kami lagi. A-game talaga ang importante sa laro na ‘yun. ‘Di kami dapat mag-relax sa sitwasyon,” Alinsunurin bared.
With the stakes as high as ever, Alinsunurin is counting on the hard-hitting duo of Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas to take charge of the Philippine team.
“Every time na mayroon kaming adjustment, kailangan makuha namin, and siyempre sa leadership ng dalawang players natin na si Bryan at ni Marck na sobrang experience na sa international. And sana magtuluy-tuloy lang ang kanilang ginagawa sa team na walang nagpapataasan,” said Alinsunurin.
Bagunas currently leads the Philippines in scoring with 18 points per game. Meanwhile, Espejo follows suit with 17 points, 10.5 receptions, and 5 digs per contest.
Alinsunurin hopes that the duo and the rest of the Philippine team can then carry the momentum come the semifinals.
“Sana pagdating [ng semis] makuha namin and pagdating ng Finals.”
