By: Jonnash Dannug
Philippine Men’s National Volleyball Team head coach Dante Alinsunurin hopes to complete his final line-up after Rebisco-Philippines’ stint in the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference.
“Ang kulang namin is kung kailan kami magsasama sama talaga, as in buo na maglalaro talaga,” said Alinsunurin, following their four-set loss against the Cignal HD Spikers last Thursday.
“‘Yung final fourteen namin kailangan ‘yun ang ma-establish namin eh.
“Sana bago matapos ‘tong Spikers’ Turf, makakuha na kami ng fourteen-man lineup namin para doon na kami mag-focus kung sino ‘yung babagay sa first seven namin. Kasi alam mo naman ang volleyball, hindi kailangan na parang basketball palitan ng palitan. Ang kailangan makakuha kami ng best eight namin or best nine para pagdating ng SEA Games,” he continued.
The National Team joined the tournament as part of their preparation for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which will be held here in the Philippines this November.
Members of the national team, though, are required to play for their club team if they face Rebisco. Also, the national team cannot play in the semi-finals, and if by chance the team earns a slot in the top four, the fifth team will enter the playoffs.
“Gusto lang talaga naming ma-ipasok sa kanila ‘yung sistema na gusto naming i-ano sa kanila.
“Kaya lang medyo naguguluhan pa sila kasi halos magkakaiba talaga ng team na pinanggalingan eh kaya hanggat maari lahat pinapasok namin para makita namin kung sino talaga ‘yung magfi-fit doon sa gusto naming mangyari pagdating sa SEA Games,” he said.
With most of his players still committed to their respective clubs, RP team’s three-hour practices during Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are still not enough to completely build the team into the cohesive unit that Alinsunurin aspires them to be.
“Although nagpa-practice na kami, siyempre ‘yung iba may mga commitment pa sa mga club teams nila. Hindi pa talaga namin sila nahahawakan talaga,” he explained.
For now, the three-time UAAP Men’s Volleyball champion coach bared that the team’s main priority is to establish the team’s chemistry.
“As of now, nasa ten-percent pa lang talaga kami eh, kasi kailangan talaga namin munang makilala ‘yung isa’t isa, kung ano ‘yung gusto naming mangyari sa team,” he said.
“Kung ano talaga ‘yung goal namin kasi hanggang ngayon talagang kulang pa rin talaga kami sa ginagawa.”
