PNVF inflates bubble; no nat’l athletes in Baguio–PSC

Gearing up for two important regional tournaments, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) will open its bubble training facilities in Ilocos Norte province for the national men’s and women’s sides starting on Thursday.

The women will be playing in the Asian Women’s Seniors Championship in August and together with the men will be campaigning in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in November where the men will seek to finally nail down the gold medal after coming so close at home in 2019.

“Training for the national teams officially starts July 1 and we are very thankful that Ilocos Norte has agreed to adopt our national athletes who will be training in a bubble environment,’’ said PNVF president Tats Suzara.

Priority events

The PNVF has prioritized the Asian champs on Aug. 29 to Sept. 5 in Pampanga and Subic provinces and the SEA Games (Nov. 21 to Dec. 2) in the national team program.

Suzara made it clear the PNVF training bubbles are exclusive in Ilocos Norte and refuted reports that members of the national volleyball teams have set up a training camp in Baguio City.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chief of Staff and national training director Marc Edward Velasco, likewise, confirmed that no national athlete is training in Baguio at present.

Suzara said at least 10 countries are expected to take part in the Asian championship, a major meet under the Asian Volleyball Confederation and International Volleyball Federation.

There are 52 members of the national team—20 men and 16 women in volleyball and 10 each for men and women in beach volleyball. INQ