Sumagaysay determined to help bring more attention to men’s volleyball, starting with SEA Games

Philippine men’s volleyball team’s Jayvee Sumagaysay. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jayvee Sumagaysay, who didn’t make it to the final cut when the Philippine men’s volleyball team earned a historic silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, is eager to prove himself in not only leading a rebuilding squad back to the podium but also giving more attention to their sport.

After finally getting his opportunity to play for the country in this year’s SEA Games in Cambodia, the veteran middle blocker out of University of Santo Tomas vows not to waste the opportunity and trust given to him.

“Fullfilment ng career kasi para sa akin ito nalang yung kulang ko para masabi na successful akong player pero hindi pa doon natatapos,” Sumagaysay told INQUIRER.net. “Para sa akin hindi ka  pwede makuntento sa kung anong narating mo, kailangan laging what’s next.”

“Sobrang motivated ako kasi alam ko na sobrang pursigido ng mga bata makikita mo na gusto nila matuto at magsilbi para sa bansa,” he added.

(This is a fulfillment of my career [goals] because this is the only thing I was lacking to say that I’m a successful player. But this is not the end of it. For me, you can’t be content with what you’ve achieved you always have to think of what’s next. I’m super motivated because I know my teammates are really eager to learn and serve the country.)

MORE ATTENTION

Sumagaysay, who has been very vocal in promoting the Philippine men’s volleyball, believes that more than the opportunity to lift the program from its recent adversities,  it’s also their chance to help their sport in reaching greater heights.

“Gustong gusto ko pinopromote yung Philippine men’s volleyball kasi hindi kami nagahahangad ng atensyon na meron yung women’s kasi given na sa kanila yun, deserved din naman talaga nila yun. Kami ang hinahangad lang naman namin is yung attention na deserve din namin. Alam naman natin kung gaano kataas yung men’s volleyball na meron yung Pilipinas,” he expressed.

“Siguro sa side namin parang naiinggit lang kami kasi yung mga countries na napuntahan namin na Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand kasi yung men’s volleyball nila mas sikat pa sa women’s. Naiingit kami kasi tinatanong kami bakit mas sikat dito yung women’s, pero OK lang sa amin yun.”

(I really want to promote Philippine men’s volleyball. We’re not aspiring to reach the level of attention for women’s volleyball, because that’s a given for them and they deserve it. We just want to get the attention we deserve. We know how high [the quality] of men’s volleyball is in the Philippines.)

(I guess on our side, we are a little bit envious of other countries like Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand because men’s volleyball there is even more popular than women’s. We’re always being asked why women’s volleyball is more popular here, but that’s OK with us.)

The former import in Malaysia knows that leading this team is a huge responsibility as the program went in a different direction, replacing former coach Dante Alinsunurin with Brazilian tactician Sergio Veloso and several key cogs begging off including Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo.

“We know our responsibilities so whoever we face in our bracket either Indonesia, Cambodia and Singapore, especially the defending champion Indonesia so we need to surpass the performance of the past national teams,” said Sumagaysay in Filipino.

The nationals will face Indonesia on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., starting their Group A campaign at Indoor Olympic Stadium.

On Thursday, the Philippines battles the host and reigning bronze medalist Cambodia before wrapping up the elimination round against Singapore on the next day with only the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals.