VOLLEYBALL POOL MEMBERS NAMED
THE Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) on Wednesday bared the composition of the national pool that will see action in at least four international competitions scheduled for the last half of the year. But the pool members will have to hone during a time that PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara described as “very challenging.”
“It will be a very challenging year not only for us but also for the other countries,” Suzara told an online press conferemnce. We have to do the tryouts, otherwise our sport will die if we don’t work hard.”
Suzara also announced that by virtue of the beach volleyball teams’ two bronze medals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines was awarded slots to the Asian Volleyball Confederation Continental Cup, a Tokyo Olympics qualifier, in June in Thailand.
Beach volleyball commission head Charo Soriano said the teams will start training this Saturday in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, to prepare for the qualifier.
The 20-member men’s volleyball pool includes 13 players from the silver medal-clinching team in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, while each of the men’s and women’s pool for beach volleyball were the same athletes who bagged bronze medals also in the 2019 biennial games.
The beach volleyball pool has 10 players for each gender while the women’s volleyball pool has 16 players so far.
“Four to six more players will be added to the women’s pool to fill up the setter, outside hitter, libero and opposite positions,” PNVF national team commission chair Tonyboy Liao told the press conference from San Mateo, California. “This positions will be filled up once Coach Jorge arrives.”
Liao was referring to Brazilian coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito who will help women’s volleyball coach Odjie Mamon in harnessing the team. He is expected to arrive on July 1.
Suzara said the PNVF pool will vie in the Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship which the country is bidding to host in August in Clark and Subic and the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games in November.
Head coach Dante Alinsunurin, who steered the country to the silver medal in the 2019 SEA Games, said the men’s team will see action in Asian Men’s Senior Championship in Chiba and Funabashi, Japan, in September.
Also present during the press conference were PNVF secretary general Don Caringal, coaches Paul
Jan Doloiras (beach volleyball men) and Rhovyl Verayo (beach volleyball women), and events commission chair Carmela Arcolas Gamboa, who hosted the proceedings.
Suzara, who also launched the PNVF official website volleyballphilippines.com on Wednesday, said the volleyball teams, will begin a two-month training in Subic starting June 1, but will also set up camps in Silay City, Negros Occidental, and Davao.
He also bared his request to the Premiere Volleyball League to hold its bubble tournament in Subic as he intends to field the women’s volleyball team in the professional league.
“I requested the PVL head Ricky Palou to hold their bubble tournament in Subic so it would be easier for the national team to join the event,” Suzara said. Palou is the PNVF treasurer and deputy secretary general for international affairs.