Lloyd Josafat of University of the East and Jay Rack Dela Noche of University of Santo Tomas will be part of the 14-man Philippine men’s national volleyball team in the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Cambodia.
For the collegiate players, it’s a dream come true to represent the flag and country in the regional meet in May.
“Siyempre, masaya na pressure, Masaya ako kasi ‘yun nga na parang pinangarap ko rin ‘to as a volleyball player,” said the 23-year-old Josafat.
“Yun po kasi yung dream ko, makapasok ng national team. Naging patient lang po ako para tuloy-tuloy yung pag-tryout ko sa team para makapasok,” said the 20-year-old Dela Noche.
Josafat, who’s been playing both middle blocker and opposite positions, said that his experience with silver medalist AMC-Cotabato in the recently concluded Spikers’ Turf Open Conference and his display for UE in the ongoing UAAP men’s volleyball tournament will surely help him on the international stage.
Josafat, who was one of the final cuts in the 2021 SEA Games pool, vows to give it his all whatever the team needs in Cambodia.
“Sobrang laking tulong nung Spikers’ Turf and itong UAAP para mabuo pa ‘yung laro ko sa loob, and ‘yung morale din ma-boost din,” said the 6-foot-2 Josafat.
“Ang mao-offer ko sa team is kung saan ako makakatulong tapos kung ano ‘yung kaya ko ibigay, ibibigay ko ng todo. Sabi nga ni Coach Jerome [Guhit], ibibigay ko ng 110-percent,” he added.
Familiarity will not be a problem for Josafat as his UE coach Jerome Guhit will be there as the team manager while his AMC coach Odjie Mamon will also act as assistant to the national team tactician Sergio Veloso.
His Cotabato Spikers teammates Jau Umandal, Vince Mangulabnan, Vince Lorenzo, Jayvee Sumagaysay, and Steven Rotter are also part of the lineup.
“Sobrang comfortable po ako na nandun sila kasi… siyempre kahit sa PNVF and sa Spikers’ Turf kasama ko po sila, so parang panatag po ‘yung loob ko kapag sila ‘yung kasama ko sa loob, and sila din ‘yung nag-bo-boost ng morale ko — nag-guide sa akin,” said Josafat.
“Yung system siguro, di na kami masyado naninibgao kasi si Coach Odjie din ‘yung coach namin sa AMC and sa National Team,” Josafat continued.
Meanwhile, Dela Noche is grateful to be part of the indoor team for the first time after having represented the country in international U-20 and U-21 beach volleyball tournaments.
The 6-foot lefty spiker shared that it would be a different experience than his previous national team stints as there would be more teammates to back him up this time.
“Sa indoor po kasi meron po mga kasama na makapag-guide po sa akin — makatulong din sa team na ma-boost ‘yung energy ko,” added the Golden Spiker.
Being one of the younger players of the national team, Dela Noche is at peace knowing his teammates were once his idols.
“Sobrang happy po ako kasi dati po pinapanood ko lang po sila sa TV, tapos ngayon nakasama ko na po lahat sila at nakabonding po — sobrang blessed talaga ako kay Lord sa career po.”
The national team is looking to get back in the podium after a fifth-place finish in the 31st edition of the biennial meet.
