Philippine National Volleyball Federationhas appointed Arthur “Odjie” Mamon and Dante Alinsunurin as the national women’s and men’s volleyball coaches, respectively.
Also appointed were national beach volleyball coaches Rhovyl Verayo (men) and Paul John Doloiras (women).
“After careful and stringent deliberation and evaluation, the federation selected coaches Odjie and Dante, both of whom bring with them impressive and credible credentials,” Suzara said.
The coaches will primarily focus on the country’s campaign in the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games. There the men’s team hopes to improve on its silver from the 2019 SEA Games, while the women’s team targets a podium finish.
The National Team Commission headed by Tony Boy Liao and National Coaches Commission under Jerry Yee made the recommendation to the PNVF board on the composition of the national coaching staff.
Assisting Mamon are Grace Antigua and former Ateneo de Manila University coach Tai Bundit of Thailand.
Alinsunurin coached the country to that silver medal in the Philippine SEA Games two years ago. He has Dong dela Cruz and Sherwin Meneses as assistants.
“Our appointed coaches will do whatever it takes to assemble the best ever team in the SEA Games with their vast coaching experience even during this situation,” Suzara said.
“So we’re confident Volleyball Philippines is in good hands.”
“It’s a call to duty for the national colors and you can’t decline once the country asks for your service,” said Mamon, who owns a 24-year coaching experience highlighted by women’s bronze medal finishes in the Kuala Lumpur 2001 (head coach) and Hanoi 2003 (assistant coach) SEA Games.
“Everybody is affected by the pandemic, but we are hoping to maintain our finish in the last SEA Games,” said Alinsunurin, who also coaches National University men’s team.
“We have to work really, really hard if we want to win a gold medal.”
Verayo, on the other hand, expressed confidence in the beach volleyball players’ mindset and physical condition despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ll do everything to get a gold because our program is improving,” said Verayo, who will be assisted on the bench by Jason Gabales and Reycarl Dimaculangan.
Doloiras, meanwhile, said they are looking beyond the bronze medal Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons clinched in the last SEA Games.
“We are all affected by the pandemic so we’re focusing on the conditioning of the players,” Dolairas said.
“We will do our best to improve slowly every game until SEA Games.”
