The Philippine Men’s National Volleyball Team made a Cinderella run in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, stunning the region on its way to a silver finish for the first time in 42 years.
And with that improbable run to the gold medal match comes the higher expectations for the squad.
But one of the team’s leaders in Bryan Bagunas remains unfazed heading into the 31st SEA Games commencing on Friday.
After all, with a silver in its bag, the men’s squad has nothing to aim for but the gold.
“Ang motivation namin noon maka-podium finish lang pero naka-silver kami. Ang goal namin ngayon is maka-gold na siyempre. Gagawin naming motivation ‘yun,” said the 6-foot-5 spiker, who just concluded his third season with Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in Japan V.League.
However, more eyes will be on the team this coming tournament with their surprise hike to second place in 2019.
Surely, the Philippines has earned the respect of all the countries participating, especially after dethroning then-four-time defending champion Thailand with a five-set stunner, 17-25, 25-20, 23-25, 27-25, 17-15.
“Syempre kailangan naming maghanda kasi isa na rin kami sa inaabangan sa SEA Games. So kailangan maghanda talaga,” Bagunas said.
“Hindi dapat kami makumpyansa bawat game. Ibigay lang namin ‘yung best namin, I think makukuha namin ‘yung goal namin.”
Despite the extra attention they will be getting come the biennial meet, Bagunas is confident of the team’s chances.
After all, the core of the 2019 silver squad is still intact.
“Sobrang panatag ako sa team kasi nakikita ko ‘yung mga laro nila the past few games sa training camp and ‘yung laro nila sa AVC, sobrang kumpyansa nila,” said Bagunas.
With the excellent showing of the squad, Bagunas even had this to say: “Kahit nga ‘di na ako kasama, kaya na nila yan eh.”
