Philippine men’s volleyball team off to Taiwan. –PNVF PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The new-look Philippine men’s volleyball team is set to face four Taiwan Top League clubs, including Bryan Bagunas and the Win Streak squad, to kick off its build-up for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May.
The national men’s training pool, led by interim coach Odjie Mamon, arrived at Kaohsiung International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. They will train in Taiwan until February 26.
Rex Intal, Jau Umandal, and Lloyd Josafat, who are the remaining members of the previous Philippine team, trained at Daliao Training Center for the past two days and took on Taipower men’s team in an exhibition game.
The Filipino spikers will play a scrimmage against Taipower until Saturday before heading to Taichung on Sunday.
Bagunas, who begged off due from playing in the SEA Games to his wedding in June, and his Win Streak club will test the mettle of the national team on Monday and Wednesday in a pair of friendlies at DongShan Senior High School.
Mamon and his wards will also face the Apollo men’s team on Tuesday and Thursday at FengYuan Commercial High School before wrapping up their stint against TFMI at ChungYuan Christian University Friday next week.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) national teams commission chairman Tonyboy Liao said president Tats Suzara and secretary Don Caringal accompanied the team as the training camp is the start of the exchange program with the Chinese-Taipei volleyball association.
“Actually, this is already the start of the exchange program because the Chinese-Taipei men’s team will be arriving here prior to the men’s VNL,” said Liao as the country will host the VNL men’s division anew in July.
Liao added that the men’s team will have another training camp in Tokyo from April 5 to 15.
Mamon called up a 15-man pool, also composed of Spikers’ Turf players Jade Disquitado, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, Vince Lorenzo, Jay Dela Noche, Madzlan Gampong, Kim Dayandante, Jelex Mendiola, Vince Mangulabnan, Edward Camposano, Jayvee Sumagaysay and Noel Kampton.
The interim men’s national team coach is rebuilding the program after the removal of former tactician Dante Alinsunurin and the core players of the historic silver medal team of the 2019 SEA Games, including Marck Espejo and Joshua Retamar, deciding to skip the biennial meet in Cambodia.