Owa Retamar training with the Alas Pilipinas men’s team ahead of the AVC Challenge Cup.
MANILA, Philippines — There is no rest for UAAP champion setter Owa Retamar as he shifts his focus to Alas Pilipinas’ upcoming stint in the AVC Challenge Cup from June 2 to 9 in Bahrain.
Five days after leading National University to its fourth consecutive championship by sweeping the University of Santo Tomas in the Season 86 men’s finals, Retamar trained with Alas for the first time on Monday evening.
The two-time Finals MVP admitted that his body needs some rest after a grueling season but his heart is eager to represent the country once again two years after his last national team stint in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.
READ: Owa Retamar ‘ready’ to earn spot in national team
“My body is already looking for rest because we went through a lot in the UAAP to secure the championship,” Retamar told Inquirer Sports.
“But since I got invited to serve the country as part of the national team, I have to set aside the personal break and go back to the taraflex once again.”
Retamar, who emerged as the UAAP’s back-to-back Best Setter, had a short break in La Union with his family and got a chance to meet the locals and play beach volleyball.
He then heaed back to Manila to attend NU’s courtesy calls and championship celebrations aside from training with the nationals under coach Sergio Veloso and his coach Dante Alinsunurin and Odjie Mamon.
READ: NU’s Owa Retamar gets ‘most important trophy’ ahead of UAAP Finals
The 22-year-old playmaker, who signed off as a Bulldog after winning a title, thanked all the people behind their journey from his teammates and coaches to the NU Team B, which he credited for bringing out the best in their squad during training, as well as the media in helping the promotion of men’s volleyball.
Retamar still has one more year of eligibility in the UAAP. Even if he signs with a Spikers’ Turf team, he can still have a change of heart since the league is still on a semi-pro status which allow UAAP athletes to compete in amateur tournaments.
But for now, Retamar is locked in for the national team in the AVC and is also looking to sign with a Spikers’ Turf club.
“For now, I have to focus on my national team duties and then, after AVC, I will play in the semi-pro league,” Retamar said.