Riding the crest of a silver medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine men’s volleyball team hopes to sustain the gains of its historic run in the biennial meet.
The Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. and the coaching staff are set to plot the squad’s schedule of training and international competitions for 2020.
“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.
The Philippines on Tuesday achieved its first silver medal since 1977 and ended a 28-year wait for a podium finish in the biennial meet.
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 nasisimula pa lang kami,” said Alinsunurin.
“Siyempre kung gusto talaga naming i-angat ang laro namin kailangan namin na January mag-start na kami (with the training),” he added.
The volleyball-loving Filipino adored the men’s volleyball team for dethroning Thailand in a dramatic come-from-behind five-set victory in the semifinals.