Pinoy spikers doing well in Korean camp
The national men’s volleyball team continues to improve in service receive, blocking and floor coverage halfway through their training camp in Suwon City, South Korea.
After four tune-up matches, a daily grueling strength and endurance grind, as well as developing team chemistry in and off the court, coach Sammy Acaylar gave the team a satisfactory mark.
But he stressed that there’s still a lot of work to be done to whip the team into a strong medal contender in next month’s 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
“I’m happy that we were able to identify and address our weakness in service receive, blocking and floor coverage,” said Acaylar.
The Nationals won a total of three sets in tune-up games against the Korean U-19 team, Korean Universiade U-23 squad and club team Hwasung City. Acaylar also asked that all their tune-up games to be played for five sets regardless of the results of each frame to immerse his wards to high level of volleyball competition.
“The most important thing is that they continue to improve in each tune-up game. They all work and push themselves to improve,” Acaylar said.
The Nationals, bannered by team captain John Vic De Guzman, top setter Geuel Asia, power-hitter Mark Alfafara and young gun Bryan Bagunas had their most impressive match against the Korean U-19 team last Monday.
Despite their disadvantage in height against the towering Korean youth team, which boasts of an average height of 6-foot-5, the Filipinos won two sets, 26-24, 17-25, 22-25, 25-22, 11-15, that caught the attention of mentor Park Wongil.
“I’m really impressed because your team is really better than what I expected,” said Wongil.
The Nationals played the U-19 team in a rematch last Wednesday but dropped a 14-25, 16-25, 23-25, 25-27, 12-15 decision in a practice game where the Filipinos just the morning before received a huge blow after spiker Greg Dolor suffered a fractured finger during a blocking drill.
Dolor needed a surgery to repair the damage, ruling him out of the biennial meet. Reserve Peter Quiel of Far Eastern University took over his spot.
The Nationals lost, 16-25, 20-25, 19-25, 25-27, to Korea’s Universiade team, composed of the country’s finest collegiate players, last Tuesday before losing to Hwasung City, 20-25, 25-17, 1925, 14-25, 16-25, Thursday.