PNVF to send national volleyball teams to foreign training for Vietnam SEA Games

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is sending the national teams to foreign training to jumpstart their crucial buildup for the 31st Southeast Asian Games set to be hosted by Vietnam from May 12 to 23.

The men's indoor volleyball team, raring to take home the gold medal after a silver finish last 2019, will fly to Qatar on March 20 and will run their training until April 5. PNVF president Ramon "Tats" Suzara said the men's squad was supposed to hold their training in Italy but restrictions stood their way.

"We can bring our experience (that we will get from Qatar) here in the Philippines and all the way to the SEA Games," said head coach Dante Alinsunurin whose team will be bannered by skipper John Vic De Guzman.

Along with De Guzman, also making their return to the SEA Games stage are Rex Intal, Kim Malabunga, Ish Polvorosa, Joshua Retamar, Francis Saura, Joshua Umandal, Mark Alfafara, Jack Kalingking, and Jessie Lopez.

Also making it to the pool are Nico Almendras, John Paul Bugaoan, Kim Dayandante, Joeven Dela Vega, Lloyd Josafat, Ysay Marasigan, and Manuel Sumanguid II.

Mainstays Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, both of whom are playing as imports in the Japan V.League, will miss the Qatar training camp but Alinsunurin said the two spikers will join the team by either end of April or start of May.

The women's indoor team, meanwhile, will stage a two-week intensive training in Brazil starting on April 12, just days after the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) wrapped up the 2022 Open Conference on April 9.

They will then prepare to eclipse their fourth-place finish in the previous edition which saw them winless against Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Leading the pack are Alyssa Valdez and Jaja Santiago along with Iris Tolenada, Deanna Wong, Kath Arado, Dawn Macandili, Del Palomata, Aby Maraño, Ria Meneses, Ces Molina, Jema Galanza, Kat Tolentino, Mylene Paat, Majoy Baron, and youngsters Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero.

Both the men's and women's beach volleyball teams are set to leave later tonight for Brisbane, Australia to also conduct overseas training with the pair of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons leading the way.

"Foreign experiences, you cannot buy that. A lot of foreign experience can help our national teams improve their level. Although it's costly, we need to have additional support," said Suzara in a virtual send-off ceremony on Tuesday morning.

"Our target is to get the gold in the four teams. The level of play for the Southeast Asian games this May should be equal because of the pandemic, but I think we will put up a good fight."

—JMB, GMA News