BY ABBY TORALBA
THE Philippine national men’s volleyball team is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games next month.
The Filipino spikers, led by skipper Vince Magulabnan and ace spiker Joshua Umandal, arrived in Japan two days ago for a two-week camp, which will end on April 23, to ramp up their training for the biennial games.
Under Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso, the national team is expected to toughen up against V. League club team Panasonic Panthers.
Last February, the national squad went to Chinese Taipei for a 10-day training camp and had several tuneup matches against Taiwan Top League clubs.
Local volleyball fans were in distress last week as the national team was missing during the SEA Games men’s volleyball event draw due to a “clerical error.’
The problem was solved last Thursday, thanks to the efforts of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee that paved the way for a re-draw.
Aside from Mangulabnan and Umandal, also part of the national team are Lloyd Josafat, Kim Harold Dayandante, Vince Patrick Lorenzo, Jayvee Sumagaysay, Manuel Sumanguid III, Jade Disquitado, Rwenzmel Taguibolos and Leo Ordiales, Jay Rack Dela Noche and Filipino-Americans Steven Charles Rotter, Cyrus Justin De Guzman and Michael Raymund Vicente.
The national team looks to win a medal after finishing fifth in the previous edition of the Games.
In the women’s side, the team is also set to have a two-week Japan training camp from April 13 to 28, while the national beach volleyball teams are headed to Brazil.
The Pinay belles settled for fourth place, while the national beach volleyball teams seized bronze medals last year in the Vietnam SEA Games.
The volleyball tournament of the biennial meet will begin on May 3 at the Morodok Techo Elephant Hall.
The beach volleyball event is expected to start on May 11 at the Otres Beach in Preah Sihanouk (Sihanoukville) Province.
