The Philippine men’s volleyball national team program has been the hot topic over the past week.
During the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference pre-tournament press conference last week, head coach Dante Alinsunurin bared that he will no longer handle the national team.
According to the most decorated men’s volleyball tactician who guided the Philippines to a historic silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the management had doubts if he can handle three teams simultaneously as he also coaches Choco Mucho and National University men’s squad.
“As of now bale nakausap ko yung team manager namin, binaba na nila ako dahil sa sitwasyon. Kaya ngayon, ang hinahawakan ko na lang is yung NU men’s and Choco Mucho,” Alinsunurin said last week.
Then came the tell-all interview of former national team setter Joshua Retamar to INQUIRER.net.
In the article released last Thursday, Retamar claimed that they have not received their allowances for the national team since November 2022.
He was also saddened by the sudden removal of Alinsunurin as head coach since he knows the aspiration of his mentor for the country’s program.
Alinsunurin had a successful debut in the PVL, guiding the Flying Titans to a 25-15, 25-20, 25-20 thrashing of Akari on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Shortly after the match, he expressed his support for Retamar’s revelations.
“Kung ano man yung sinabi ni Retamar, nasa sa kanya naman talaga yung sitwasyon eh,” said Alinsunurin.
“Siya yung… naramdaman niya, nakita niya kaya ako kung ano man yung nangyari sa kanya, lahat ng sinabi niya syempre as a coach niya syempre sinusuportahan ko siya,” he added.
Retamar and the rest of the Bulldogs are in Taiwan for their last stretch of preparation before the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament where they will try to defend their crown.
