All’s well that ends well, as the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC) has agreed to repeat the draw for the men’s volleyball competition of the games’ 32nd edition in May.
The country’s entry by names for men’s volleyball was inadvertently overlooked during the submission deadline in February, thus excluding the Philippines in the draw held on Monday in Phnom Penh.
“The POC [Philippine Olympic Committee] would like to thank the top officials of CAMSOC and the president of the Cambodia volleyball federation for heeding our request for a re-draw,” said POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, after receiving an official communication via email from CAMSOC on Maundy Thursday.
Tolentino also thanked the members of the SEA Games Federation Council, headed by Cambodia Olympic Committee president Dr. Thong Khon, for supporting the POC’s request for the re-draw.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara thanked the POC for convincing CAMSOC for the re-draw.
In its email to the POC, CAMSOC agreed to a re-draw provided that five SEA Games countries, including the Philippines, agree to the exercise.
“We have the full support of the other countries,” Suzara said. “To name some, we have Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Vietnam supporting us.”
Thailand also supported the re-draw through Tolentino’s effort, according to Suzara.
CAMSOC chairman Samdech Pichey Senah Tea Banh, vice chairman HE Dr. Thong Khon, and secretary-general and CEO HE Vath Chamroeun Oly, agreed to the Philippine request in consultation with Cambodia volleyball federation president HE Pol. Gen. NethSavoeun.
“Both CAMSOC and the Kingdom of Cambodia, as host country of the 32nd SEA Games, reaffirm our commitment to the values of solidarity, friendship, cooperation, and peace,” CAMSOC said in its letter to the POC.
Tolentino said that Chamroeun accepted the POC oversight and convinced CAMSOC for the re-draw.
“The POC all this while wanted to enter the team, but there was an oversight that resulted in late/no entry,” Chamroeun said in his message to Tolentino. “Since the competition has not started at this early stage, the spirit of our special SEAG friendship, we should allow the entry.”
Chamroeun added: “If a draw had already been conducted, we just do a re-draw. If not, if there’s a group with fewer teams, the POC can join the group.”
Monday’s draw had Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore in Group A and Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar in Group B of the SEA Games volleyball set to start on May 3 – two days before the opening ceremony – and will end on May 11 at the MorodokTechno Elephant Hall inside Cambodia’s main stadium.
CAMSOC has yet to announce the date of the re-draw.
