ALAS Pilipinas won’t field an import in the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League in Japan from May 11-18, according to Asian Volleyball Confederation and Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
“I heard from coach [Angiolino] Frigoni na hindi tayo kukuha ng import even if you’re allowed to get three imports. Ang thinking niya, let the national team be as it is,” Suzara said last Monday after the formal partnership between the PNVF and the MVP Group, headed by chairman and sports patron Manuel V. Pangilinan, was signed at the Meralco Building in Ortigas.
The national squad will carry the banner of the Cignal HD Spikers in the 12-team Asian club tourney in Osaka and Kyoto.
The finalists in the eight-day competition will seal spots in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship.
The HD Spikers are grouped in Pool B with Japan B’s Osaka Bluteon, bannered by Japan national team players Yuji Nishida and Akihiro Yamauchi, and two-time Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Bright Men’s Volleyball Club.
Cignal will begin its campaign on May 11 against Osaka Bluteon before colliding with Shanghai Bright Men’s VC on May 13.
After the Asian club meet, Suzara said Alas Pilipinas will have a series of international training camps before the country hosts the 32-nation World Championship from September 12 to 28.
“After that [AVC Champions League], they will have a training camp in Japan. Then, they go to New York, to the US, for exhibition matches and then go to Europe. Babalik na sila dito by July. It’s good that they’re out there training,” he said.
Facing World No. 15 Iran, 20th-ranked Egypt and 40th-ranked Tunisia in the Pool A preliminary phase of the world-class contest, Suzara expressed optimism the nationals will continue to improve.
“Tunisia is not an easy team. They were African champions. Egypt also, and Iran, world-class ‘yung Iran. I’m hoping. Masaya na ko kapag maka-one set tayo sa mga kalaban but who knows, we might have a chance,” Suzara said.
