It’s a man’s game, too
Women’s volleyball is still as popular as ever with two leagues and an upcoming collegiate season satisfying the craving of every fan.
But the men’s version of the game is making a serious bid to be just as palatable with competitive play and talented players.
Men’s volleyball has been a staple in the collegiate ranks and in military and club leagues. SuperLiga was the first to bring the men into the realm of bigger venues and television and the Shakey’s V-League, the pioneer in the women’s game, is now serving its own version in its current Reinforced Conference.
The issue should never be who served first but rather the abundance of competitive tournaments is good for the players. Simply because the game was in the shadows for a very long time, it’s great that there are more tournaments going on.
It seemed like it was just a matter of time before the men would share in the limelight.
The men’s game is undoubtedly athletic, with exciting rallies extended repeatedly. There have been utterly competitive battles, as typified by the long stretch of five-set matches in the first week of competition of the V-League. If there were a downside, it would have to be in serving where there’s a tendency to take a few more gambles than the women.
The jump serve, lethal when done well and sloppy when it misses, is a staple in men’s volleyball. The adage that the serve is a first weapon holds very true and very few still opt for the easy, high percentage standing serve.
In the V-League, two school-based teams are battling two club squads in the double round conference where the top two teams move forward to the finals. Rizal Technological University has both its alumni and current student-athletes meshing together. Far Eastern University, a perennial power in the UAAP, has been the breeding ground of many of the coaches currently working with different teams.
Systema has of course, actor-athlete Richard Gomez in its roster. But Gomez is not the only bright light in this team as Salvador Depante, Angelo Espiritu and Christian Arbastro are deadly reliables. Completing the four-team tourney is Instituto Estetico Manila where Jeffrey Jimenez, Karl De la Calzada and Salvador Timbal are the players to watch.
Having the men’s game in the spotlight is definitely a boost for the sport. And this is not the only great thing happening. Finally, two pools of men and women players for the Philippines were introduced last week. After a long stretch of useless politicking and apathy, there is finally some direction for the country’s volleyball program.
As we have always said in this space, there’s no value to the resurgence of volleyball as a sport if we are unable to come together to form competitive national teams. For a long time, we were a country to contend with in Asian volleyball before other countries become more disciplined and allotted more resources to develop their teams.
It’s never too late to turn things around for Philippine volleyball. Just as it isn’t late at all that the men are pitching for their game to be accepted as well.
Follow the talk with me via Twitter: @sportssev.
