Continuity is the name of the game for the Philippine men's volleyball team as they seek to improve upon their second place finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The core of the team that won a historic silver medal in the 30th SEA Games was called up anew by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), including Japan-based stars Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas.
But the PNVF also added some young stars to the group, including Joshua Umandal and libero Manuel Sumanguid III, who both impressed in the national team's stint in the 2021 Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship last October.
Of the 20 men in the pool, 14 will be selected to the final team that will compete in the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 12-25.
The full pool is as follows:
Philippines Men's Volleyball Lineup (Men—20 athletes and 4 coaching staff)
Athletes:
1. Kim Malabunga
2. Ysrael Wilson Marasigan
3. Rex Emmanuel Intal
4. John Paul Bugaoan
5. Francis Phillip Saura
6. Jessie Lopez
7. Manuel Sumanguid III
8. Kim Harold Dayandante
9. Ave Joshua Retamar
10. Joeven Dela Vega
11. Marck Jesus Espejo
12. Jack Kalingking
13. John Vic De Guzman
14. Bryan Bagunas
15. Mark Gil Alfafara
16. Angelo Nicolas Almendras
17. Ricky Marcos
18. Lloyd Josafat
19. Joshua Umandal
20. Esmilzo Joner Polvorosa
Head Coach: Dante Alinsunurin, Jr.
Assistant Coach: Ariel Dela Cruz
Assistant Coach: Sherwin Meneses
Trainer: Jeffrey Malabanan
Operating under the shadows of the more popular women’s team, the national volleyball men’s squad stole the spotlight with a heroic silver medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The team, which no one in the region will overlook anymore, is hoping to do one better in Vietnam.
“We have to prove that we really improved. We can’t go down from the level that we set for the Philippine men’s volleyball team in the previous SEA Games,” Bagunas told INQUIRER.net “We have to prove the continuous development of men’s volleyball here in the country.”
“So expect us to give our best in the SEA Games,” he added.
Although the men’s volleyball leagues in the country like Spikers’ Turf and even the UAAP and NCAA, are still on hold, coach Dante Alinsunurin said his wards are ready to make another historic run in Hanoi after a fruitful training camp in Qatar early this month.
“The team is ready. We made the necessary adjustments that the team needs. I think we still have a chance to reach our goal in the SEA Games,” said Alinsunurin, who is making the most of their remaining practices at National University two weeks before the biennial meet.
“We saw in Qatar that we can match the level of taller opponents. During our training there, we saw the difference of their play style to Japan. Qatar gave us added experience and learnings.”
