The Board of Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) will buckle down to business early next year as it intends to sustain the momentum gained by its men’s team in the just-concluded 30th SEA Games.
“Magmi-meet kami siguro third week ng January. I-plot natin ang buong taon,” said LVPI board member and national team program head Peter Cayco.
Led by Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, the men’s team produced a scintillating performance and ended the reign of Thailand in five thrilling sets in what stood out as one of the country’s biggest wins in the 12-day biennial meet.
The Nationals, however, fell short in its bid to complete a Cinderella finish when they lost to the Indons in the final.
Still, their silver medal glittered like a gold as it was the country’s first podium finish in 28 years.
They even outshone the celebrated women’s team which dropped all its four matches.
Right after losing to Indonesia in the gold medal match, the LVPI assured the squad that their hard work will be rewarded with sufficient support from the federation.
“Kanina kinausap ako ni sir Peter, ang sabi niya magtuluy-tuloy ang training namin,” said Dante Alinsunurin, who has been the men’s head coach since March.
As part of their SEA Games preparation, the Filipinos competed and won the bronze in the Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Volleyball Championship and went on a 16-day training camp in Japan.
“Yun ang hinihiling din namin na magtuluy-tuloy ang team na mag-training kasi importante talaga sa amin yun lalo na nagsisimula pa lang kami,” said Alinsunurin.
“Siyempre kung gusto talaga naming i-angat ang laro namin kailangan talaga namin na January mag-start na kami (with the training),” he added.