Fans give Philippines its biggest edge in FIVB men’s worlds hosting

Philippines men’s volleyball stakeholders and player pool during the FIVB Volleyball World Championships 2025 hosting press conference. –PNVF PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is not only vowing to be a great host FIVB Volleyball World Championships 2025 but it also promises to make the most of the golden opportunity to boost the men’s volleyball level and popularity in the country. 

Thirty-two teams including the host Philippines will vie for the 2025 Men’s World Championships from September 12 to 28 next year at Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Tats Suzara believes the country became the first solo host since Poland in 2014 and the first Asian nation to hold the world spectacle since Japan in 2006 because of the Filipino sports fans.

READ: Philippines set to host 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship

“I think the very reason we won the bid out of 31 countries – and it boiled down to Japan and Indonesia as the last three competing bids – was the success of the Filipino fans for the last two years at MOA and Araneta. FIVB said the fans of the Philippines are different,” said Suzara in front of a united men’s volleyball community with Spikers’ Turf, UAAP, and NCAA teams on Tuesday at Marquis Events Place at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

“Even you see Japan, which is very popular here, and Poland, then this time USA is coming in the VNL. Iba yung fans ng Filipino. Even yung basketball..I think is one important aspect that we won the bid, so they really selected the Philippines.”

The Philippines will hold the draw on September 12 and invite three Japanese club teams to face the men’s national volleyball squad in exhibition games for the one-year countdown of the World Championship.

READ: FIVB VNL: Ran Takahashi, Yuji Nishida praise fans’ energy in tough win

The men’s squad, who will have a new moniker in the coming weeks, will have new major sponsors in Cignal and PLDT. Coach Sergio Veloso and returning tactician Dante Alinsunurin and deputy coach Odjie Mamon will select 25 players for the training pool as their build-up will start after the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.

Philippines is ‘ready’ for FIVB hosting

After a successful Fiba World Cup 2023 hosting, Suzara hopes to bring that success to men’s volleyball, which has a 600-man delegation, along with PNVF chairman emeritus Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who will serve as the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC),  Department of Tourism Director for Film and Sports Tourism Roberto Alabado III, and Cignal TV president and CEO Jane Basas.

“We will make them feel at home right at our own home,” said Suzara.  “I am ready. We are ready. The team is ready. The Philippines is ready to face the challenges and fulfill a dream as our hearts beat collectively to serve the sport. If you love volleyball, then you will surely love the Philippines.”

READ: PNVF bid could pit national men’s team against world’s best

Suzara and Cayetano also took charge of the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games when the men’s volleyball team earned a historic silver medal.

“It’s how we, as a people, welcome the rest of the world. I believe that our hope in a successful hosting will be by faith and action—faith in God and action as a community,” Cayetano said. “I believe that it’s time for the world volleyball to see how united the Philippine volleyball community is.”

The PNVF is also hosting the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) men’s division for the third consecutive year this June.