After SEA Games stint, Marck Espejo set to join Thai club Visakha
Marck Espejo of the Philippines during the 30th Southeast Asian Game men’s volleyball game at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
INQUIRER PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines—Marck Espejo had just won the silver the medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games but he’s not stopping anytime soon.
The Nationals’ reliable outside hitter is set to fly to Thailand on the 15th to join his new team Visakha in the Thailand League. His contract starts this December and ends in April.
Espejo, though, will have time to join his family for the holidays later this month before traveling back to Bangkok to fulfill his club obligations.
“I’ll be back for Christmas and New Year but from the second of January until April I’ll be there in Thailand,” said Espejo in Filipino Wednesday at Empress Dining Palace during national team sponsor Rebisco’s thanksgiving lunch.
Espejo said he hasn’t felt fatigued at all despite playing in the SEA Games, where their campaign ended in a three-set defeat to 10-time champion Indonesia, 25-21, 27-25, 25-17, for the silver medal.
“Right now I’m still hyped up about the SEA Games but I think a couple of days from now everything will settle in but I think I can still have some rest in Thailand because the coaches aren’t that strict and they’ll give me some time off since I just played,” said Espejo.
After series of heartbreaks, hard work yields medal for PH men’s volleyball
The former five-time UAAP MVP said he’ll leave the Philippines with a great source of motivation. The men’s team’s runner-up finish in the SEA Games is the first time the country reached the podium since 1991, also tying its best result in 42 years.
“I’m proud of myself, I’m proud that I’m one of those who helped the country reach the podium but this isn’t just for us,” said Espejo who also played in Japan’s V. League for Oita Miyoshi.
Espejo said their victory is proof that there is future in men’s volleyball.
“This is for the kids who want to try volleyball because men’s volleyball has a future,” said Espejo.
