PINOY volley fans will be treated to two weeks of topnotch action when the country hosts the second leg of the Volleyball Nations League next year.
Men’s Olympic champion France and women’s counterpart United States lead 15 nations vying in the tournament to be held in Pasay City and Quezon City, respectively, on two separate dates.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation President Ramon “Tats” Suzara announced this yesterday during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
“We would like to bring more world class action in volleyball dito sa Pilipinas next year as part of our four-year partnership with the FIVB, which is the international governing body for volleyball,” said Suzara. “We will have the top eight teams (men’s side) in the world coming in Manila in June.”
Action in the women’s side kick off the two-week hostilities, with the US team being joined by China, Japan, Russia, Belgium, Poland, and Thailand in the competition set June 13 to 19 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
From June 21 to 26, it’s the turn of the men’s teams to hog the limelight, with France facing Tokyo Olympics silver and bronze medalist Russia and Argentina, respectively, Japan, Slovenia, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Initially, only the men’s matches were supposed to be held here, but with Thailand unable to host the women’s event, the FIVB requested the PNVF if it could accommodate both events instead, according to Suzara.
The meet will be the biggest volleyball event to be hosted by the country since the 2005 World Grand Prix.
The men and women’s national teams will also benefit, with exhibition matches set to be played against some of the visiting teams.
