The Philippine men’s volleyball team that won silver in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines nearly reached the volleyball summit of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after it settled for the silver medal in the men’s tournament.
That runner-up finish was only the second time the Philippines netted the silver, the first being in 1977, and captain John Vic de Guzman felt that inspiring run was just the first step to building a formidable national team program.
De Guzman, in an interview with Inquirer, said that the program should start immediately and try to build off from that 2019 campaign.
“After SEA Games I was actually sad because of this pandemic,” said de Guzman in Filipino. “I think as early as now it’s important to start immediately so we can focus in achieving our goal.”
“It won’t be easy but I know we have to work for this.”
De Guzman was just one of the 31 athletes who tried out for the national team that would compete in the 2021 Hanoi SEA Games.
Creating a national team seven months before the competition starts may be a little too early but de Guzman said it’s better than later.
Due to the pandemic, sports was practically put to a stop in 2020 and de Guzman wants to get as much work as possible before Hanoi.
‘AS EARLY AS NOW’
The Hanoi Games are slated to start on November 21 and PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara intends to have the national teams practicing as early as May.
“We should start as early as now, I think other countries are already starting so I think now is the right time to start preparing,” said de Guzman.
As for the captaincy, de Guzman said he’s willing to once again become the skipper for the national team especially with how they got to the cusp of history.
The Philippines’ run came to an end when it lost to champion Indonesia, which collected its 10th gold medal and ending a 10-year drought, in the finals.
“Of course I’d love to be the captain again because I feel that we were nearly there so after that SEA Games I know that we can go further,” said de Guzman.