Dante Alinsunurin looks to establish Men’s Team’s first six in Thailand

Rebisco-Philippines head coach Dante Alinsunurin has set one simple goal upon joining the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference.

It was a basic objective which will be very crucial in their upcoming Southeast Games campaign – to study and understand each of his players’ approach and tendencies on the hard court.

“Ang una talagang sinabi ko, gusto kong lang makilala sila, pagdating kasi ng competition talaga dapat nararamdaman mo or napapakiramdaman mo yung player mo kung hanggang saan yung kaya niya,” disclosed Alinsunurin after the Nationals ended its campaign in the Spikers’ Turf Tuesday evening.

“Kaya sabi ko nga, tinignan ko silang lahat kung anong pwede nilang gawin, anong kaya nilang gawin, at sino [yung] pwedeng sumunod sa mga gusto naming gawing sistema sa laro.”

After achieving this goal in 11 games, Alinsunurin expressed his thanks to the league for giving them the exposure and experience they need to kick-start their campaign.

Their campaign itself saw Rebisco win seven games. However, they suffered setbacks at the hands of the Cignal HD Spikers, the Sta. Elena Ball Hammers, and the Go for Gold-Air Force Jet Spikers, the latter was their send-off before flying to Thailand.

For his part, Alinsunurin had to tinker his lineup every game as the core of his squad as the players were also playing for their mother clubs.

Still, the decorated mentor is grateful for the opportunity to have a head start for the biennial meet later this year.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Spikers’ Turf, sa binigay na exposure sa amin. Malaking tulong sa amin ‘to, and kahit papaano eh ang laking tulong na nakilala ko yung mga players ko.

“Ayon, nakita naman namin na may mga kulang, syempre sabi ko nga, itong liga na ‘to para ma-expose lang kami na sama sama, then kung ano ‘man maging resulta, sagot ko naman ‘yan,” said Alinsunurin. “Mahaba pa naman yung preparation namin, kailangan talaga mag focus sa kung ano yung lapses namin dito sa Spikers’ Turf.”

With the Nationals en route to Thailand for the Sealect Tuna championships, Alinsunurin again hopes to achieve one simple objective with their stint.

“Yung maachieve namin doon sana makaestablish na talaga kami, yung first six namin at kung sino talaga yung may gagampanan sa team namin. Dun pa lang dapat malaman na namin kung sino yung dadalin namin papuntang SEA games,” said the decorated tactician.

After their Thailand stint, Alinsunurin will focus on selecting the final line-up for the SEA Games, saying, “Pagkabalik dito siyempre magfofocus na kami talaga kung [sino] yung talagang ila-lineup.

“Magfofocus na kami doon sa fourteen players.”

The Nationals – led by Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas – will face reigning Thailand League Most Valuable Player Kantapat Koonmee and Thailand League Champion Air Force Volleyball Club on July 5 at 2:00 pm (Manila time). They will go up against the Fine Chef Phitsanulok the following day at 12:00 pm.