BY ABBY TORALBA
EIGHT of the world’s top 25 men’s teams, led by No. 1 Poland and No. 3 Brazil, are coming to Pasay City next month to display their wares in Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Aside from Poland and Brazil, both former Olympic champions, also competing in the tourney set July 4 to 9 are No. 6 Italy, No. 8 Japan, No. 9 Slovenia, No. 12 The Netherlands, No. 15 Canada and No. 25 China.
This will be the country’s second straight hosting of the VNL after last year’s event held in Quezon City.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevara, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, SM MOA Arena GM, SVP & Business Unit Head Arnel Gonzales, and Diamond Hotel executive George Reynoso graced the launch of the event yesterday at the Diamond Hotel Manila.
“We are lucky this year to have the top four teams in the world. I’d like to get your support, of course, our Filipino fans,” Suzara said.
“We have been contracted by the FIVB and the Volleyball World to host the VNL for the next three years. And this is our second year, hoping that it leads us to another successful hosting,” Suzara added.
“We are honored to be the host of this year’s league. Not only because of the fact that we are considered the central hub, or the capital for world-class meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, but also because volleyball is a sport that is really and dearly close to our,” Calixto-Rubiano said.
Guevara revealed that First Lady Liza Marcos is expected to make the ceremonial serve.
Bachmann thanked the PNVF for hosting another world-level competition that he said would inspire more Filipinos to pursue the sport as an athlete, coach or organizer.
Brazil will face Italy at 3 p.m. during the July 4 opening, with China and Japan battling at 7 pm. Canada takes on the Netherlands while Poland and Slovenia clash the next day.
The Philippine men’s squad led by the returning Marck Espejo is set to clash with The Netherlands in a tune-up match at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum. A tune-up game against China is also being considered.
This year’s event is expected to be more intense and energetic with fans getting actively involved with every play and with every rally–all within an “active engagement” campaign wherein the in-stadium experience is boosted with the fans’ reactions on every ace, spike and block.
Fans can also choose from the multiple VNL merchandise of their favorite teams and can also get an exclusive VNL shirt for every purchase of Patron Front Row and VIP On Court tickets.
Meanwhile, the Philippine women’s volleyball team scored a 25-14, 25-12, 25-9 victory over Macau yesterday as the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup for Women got going in East Java, Indonesia.
Up next for the national team is Indonesia.
