National volley team formed soon; Richard Gomez at it again

MANILA, Pihlippines — The Philippine Volleyball Federation will name the country’s first national men’s team in almost eight years on March 9 with actor-athlete Richard Gomez said to be among the frontrunners for a berth.

National coach Francis Vicente has trimmed the number of candidates for the final selection from the 30 or so players who joined the tryouts at Rizal Memorial Arena.

Gomez is tipped to make history as the only athlete to join his fourth Philippine team in different sports.

Vicente is forming the team for the country’s hosting of the 2014 PLDT Home Fibr Asian Men’s Volleyball Club Championship, co-organized by SportsCore.

Gomez first joined the national rowing team in the early 1990s before bagging a bronze, three silver and two gold medals in fencing in the Southeast Asian Games from 1995 to 2005.

He also placed fourth in shooting’s shotgun competition in the 2005 SEA Games in Manila.

“I am determined to join the men’s volleyball team,” Gomez said. “I’m not going to miss this chance at serving the country once more.”

“Gomez would be a welcome addition to the national team,” said Asian clubs organizing committee chair Philip Ella Juico, a former chair of the Philippine Sports Commission. “His experience playing in three national teams will be a big factor for the team.”