PH women’s volleyball team opens SEA Games bid vs Cambodia, men’s team against Indonesia

Philippine women’s volleyball team in Japan. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine women’s volleyball team opens its 32nd Southeast Asian Games campaign against host Cambodia on May 9 at Indoor Olympic Stadium.

Cambodia on Thursday released the schedule of the group stage with the Filipino Spikers, led by team captain Alyssa Valdez, battling the host at 8:30 p.m. (Manila time) to start their stint in Group B.

The women’s national team, under Brazilian coach Jorge Souza de Brito for the second straight year, will be tested right away on May 10 against the silver medalist Vietnam at 6 p.m. before ending the round on the next day against Singapore.

Only the top two teams of each group will advance to the crossover semifinals. The survivors of the semis will clash in a gold medal match, while the losers collide for third place.

Group A is composed of defending champion Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

The Philippines has yet to win a medal since its bronze medal finish in the 2005 Manila games under coach Ramil De Jesus.

Valdez and Co. placed fourth in the past two editions, hoping to end an 18-year drought on the podium with the Creamline Cool Smashers  Jia de Guzman, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Ced Domingo, and Kyla Atienza leading the roster.

The national team, also composed of  Mylene Paat, Kat Tolentino, Gel Cayuna, Chai Troncoso, Dell Palomata, Cherry Nunag, and Bang Pineda, is currently training in Japan and playing a series of tune-up games with V.League team Himeji Victorina.

Tough men’s opener

Philippine men’s national volleyball team pool. PNVF PHOTO

Meanwhile, the Philippine men’s volleyball team kicks off its campaign against defending champion Indonesia on May 3 at 3:30 p.m.

The Jau Umandal-led squad, which missed the draw due to a clerical error, was slated in Group A in a “re-draw”, facing host and reigning bronze medalist Cambodia on May 4 at 8:30 p.m. before wrapping up the elimination round against Singapore on the next day at 6 p.m.

Group B is composed of silver medalist Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Malaysia.

The rebuilding national squad, under new coach Sergio Veloso, seeks to return to the podium after placing fifth last year in Hanoi, Vietnam, failing to sustain its historic silver medal in the 2019 edition with Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo as well as coach Dante Alinsunurin steering the team to the Finals.

Umandal and libero Manuel Sumanguid, the remaining members of last year’s national team, are leading a couple of SEA Games first-timers bannered by skipper Vince Mangulabnan, Jade Disquitado, Jay Rack De la Noche, Lloyd Josafat, Kim Dayandante, Vince Patrick Lorenzo, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, and Jayvee Sumagaysay as well as Filipino-American recruits Steve Rotter, Cyrus De Guzman, and Michael Vicente.

The team, which trained in Taiwan last February, is currently in Osaka and played tune-up games with the Panasonic Panthers. The camp will end on Sunday.