Favorable Asian volley draw for PH

MANILA, Philippines — Team Philippines got what officials said was a favorable draw in the 2014 PLDT Home Fibr Asian Men’s Volleyball Club Championship slated April 8 to 16.

Avoiding an early clash with favorites Iran, Japan and China, the Filipino spikers landed in Group A with Mongolia, Kuwait and Iraq after the draw held Friday at New World Hotel in Makati.

“We have a good chance,” said Philippine Volleyball Federation president Karl Chan. “The teams in our group are at the same level as us so it will just boil down to our preparation.”

The Filipinos also need to finish at least fourth to be included in the national delegation to the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

The Philippines’ first match will be against lightweight Mongolia but coach Francis Vicente said his team will be going all out in a bid to come up with a credible showing in the tournament.

“We want a good result in this tournament—a performance that Filipinos can be proud of,” said Vicente, who has yet to name the final lineup for the tournament.

The event has lured a record 18 teams with Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) executive vice president Shanrit Wongprasert among those present during the draw.

Group B is made up of regional powerhouses Iran and Japan together with Lebanon and Vietnam while Group C features last year’s runner-up Qatar, Kazakhstan, Oman, Hong Kong and Turmekistan.

The taller Chinese, meanwhile, are favorites to advance from Group D, where United Arab Emirates, India, Papua New Guinea and Chinese Taipei are also bracketed.

The winner of the event will represent Asia in the International Volleyball Federation World Club Championships in Brazil in May.

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