PNVF sacks Alinsunurin
Dante Alinsunurin confirmed Saturday that he has been relieved of his duties as national men’s volleyball team head coach.
The newly-appointed Choco Mucho mentor said that the Philippine National Volleyball Federation decided to let him go citing that he already has his hands full.
Aside from calling the shots for the Flying Titans in the Premier Volleyball League scheduled to open shop on 4 February, Alinsunurin is also handling the National University men’s team set to defend its title in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 starting next month.
The mentor, who steered the national squad to a historic silver medal finish in the 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games, is also coaching another NU team playing in the ongoing Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
“I told them (PNVF) that I’m going to handle a women’s team (in the PVL). They asked me if I’ll be able to handle multiple duties. They thought I might be too busy and I may not be able to handle the team,” Alinsunurin, who took over Choco Mucho’s coaching reins in early January.
“I talked to (national) team manager (Mike Verano) and he said the (PNVF) decided to remove me as head coach,” he added.
Alinsunurin has handled the national squad since 2019 and saw action in two SEA Games including the 2021
Hanoi edition.
Taking over Alinsunurin’s spot is former national women’s team coach Odjie Mamon.
However, PNVF national team commission head Tonyboy Liao clarified that Mamon will only be an interim coach for the Phnom Penh SEA Games in May.
The PNVF will then fly in Brazilian mentor Sergio Veloso to take over the national team.
“He (Mamon) will be coaching until 31st May after the SEA Games. Then we will bring in a Brazilian coach in preparation for the Asian Games and the Asian Senior men’s Championship,” Liao said.
Veloso will be the third Brazilian coach currently handling the national squads after Jorge de Brito (women’s national team) and Joao Luciano Kioday (beach volleyball). dying seconds to finally seal the deal for the team backed by Mighty Sports and Acrocity.
“Our All-Filipino lineup didn’t do too well down the stretch. We need to do a better job of taking the ball, rebounding and getting back on defense. Those are the key areas we struggle with,” Tiu added.
To avoid the late struggles they encountered against UAE, Tiu and Lao said they have to build more chemistry and learn to move the ball better and faster in their game against Al Nasr from Libya on Sunday, 1 a.m. (Manila time).
“Barefield was great offensively. He really carried us today together with Shabazz (Muhammad),” Lao said.
Muhammad stamped his class with 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists forming a deadly one-two punch with Barefield who wound up with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Renaldo Balkman was also solid with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds while fellow former NBA player Nick Young added 13.
With just two weeks to prepare, Strong Group had to shake off some jitters in the opening frame where it trailed, 27-19 at the end of the first 10 minutes of action.
But the PH club rallied mightily and took a comfortable 52-41 lead at the break and even stretched it to its largest at 20, 70-50, with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter.