(NI JEAN MALANUM)

UMALIS patungong Tokyo, Japan ang national men’s volleyball team para sa 16-day training camp na bahagi ng kanilang paghahanda sa 30th Southeast Asian Games na gagawin dito sa bansa mula Nobyembre 30 hanggang Disyembre 11.

Ayon kay head coach Dante Alinsunurin, maliban sa pagkakataon na makalaro ang iba’t ibang clubs at university teams sa Japan,  layunin din ng foreign trip na mahubog ang camaraderie at chemistry ng mga Pinoy spikers bago sumabak sa biennial meet.

Tangka ng national team ang podium finish matapos na umuwing luhaan noong 2017 (Kuala Lumpur) at 2015 (Singapore). Matapos na makamit ang bronze medal noong 2005 (Manila), nanahimik ito ng 10 taon.

Umaasa si Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) Vice President at National Team Program Director Peter Cayco ng magkaka-medalya ang men’s team na isang taong nang nagsasanay.

Naniniwala si Alinsunurin na malaki ang maitutulong ng Japan trip sa ambisyon ng koponan.

“This trip would give us the experience and improve our camaraderie and chemistry on and off the court,” ani Alinsunurin na dating national player. “We want to test ourselves in real-game situations. We want to know how we would react and how we would adjust when we’re facing a superior and more talented team.”

Sabi ni Alinsunurin, ang Japan ay “perfect training venue” para sa kanyang team.

“The Japanese are quick and smart. They may not be tall, but their system is very effective, something that we can adopt for the SEA Games, where we would face other talented teams like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam,” paliwanag niya.

Binanggit ni LVPI Secretary General Ariel Paredes ang suporta ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) upang matuloy ang byahe sa Japan.

Naglaan din ang PSC ng P11 million maliban pa sa pagbili ng equipment para lang sa training at preparation ng men’s at women’s teams.

“Like other NSAs (national sports associations) who are preparing for the SEA Games, the LVPI is also very thankful to the PSC and our other partners,” sabi ni Paredes.

“The PSC, through chairman William Ramirez and its board of commissioners, have been with us from the time we sent the women’s team for the ASEAN Grand Prix in Thailand up to now that our men’s team will be training in Japan. They also donated volleyball equipment that could help us in our preparation,” dagdag ni Paredes.

Ang mga players na pumunta ng Japan ay sina Johnvic de Guzman, Marck Espejo, Ran Abdilla, Mark Alfafara, Joshua Umandal, Ish Polvorosa, Kim Malabunga, Francis Saura, Rex Intal, Ricky Marcos at Jack Kalingking.

Kasama rin assistant coaches Sherwin Meneses at Dong Dela Cruz at LVPI director Rod Roque.

Si Bryan Bagunas na naglalaro bilang import sa Oita Miyoshi sa V Premier League sa Japan ay sasali rin sa camp mula Nobyembre 10-16.

“We also tagged along our reserve players like Joey Dela Vega, Jeff Mangulabnan and Fauzi Ismail since they also need to learn the system.This is a long-term process. They need to absorb everything so they would be ready by the time they make it to the lineup,” sabi ni Alinsunurin.