CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine men’s volleyball team gets a much-needed shot in the arm with superstar spiker Marck Espejo set to wear the country’s colors in the Southeast Asian Games here later in the year.
Espejo will spearhead the national team this time after missing the 2017 edition due to his commitments with Ateneo.
The 22-year-old Espejo, a five-time UAAP MVP out of Ateneo, forms a lethal duo with Bryan Bagunas, the former National University star who currently plays for Japanese club Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in the V.League.
Joining the two are skipper John Vic De Guzman, Mark Alfafara and Joshua Umandal of PLDT in the Spikers’ Turf, two-time Spikers’ Turf MVP Ran Abdilla of Air Force.
Rounding out the 14-man roster, which will be coached by decorated tactician Dante Alinsunurin, are setters Ish Polvorosa (Cignal), Jessie Lopez (Air Force), Joshua Retamar (Sta. Elena-NU), middle blockers Kim Malabunga (Air Force), Francis Saura (Air Force), and Rex Intal (Cignal), and defensive specialists Ricky Marcos (Sta. Elena-NU) and Jack Kalingking (Philippine Navy).
Kim Dayandante (PLDT) and Peter Torres (Cignal), who was diagnosed with spontaneous pneumothorax two months ago, failed to make the cut.
The volleyball tournament of the SEA Games kicks off on November 28 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.