OWA Retamar is back with Alas Pilipinas Men after a last-minute roster change for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
SPIN.ph learned that the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) made it possible for Retamar to join the national team at the eleventh hour, allowing the former National U setter to replace current Bulldogs playmaker Greg Ancheta in the final 12.
Retamar was initially on duty for Azerbaijani club ORDU, coming off their training camp in Poland, but was cleared to join the national team for the continental meet.
READ: Alas 'seeing results' despite ninth-place finish in Asiad
His inclusion gives head coach Angiolino Frigoni eight holdovers from the Philippines’ history-making 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship squad.
That group includes stars Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, along with Leo Ordiales, Buds Buddin, Lloyd Josafat, Peng Taguibolos, and Josh Ybañez.
The four new faces are five-time Spikers’ Turf MVP Jude Garcia, his Criss Cross setter Adrian Villados, and UAAP standouts in FEU's Lirick Mendoza and La Salle's Josh Magalaman.
Alas Men will play three straight days in Pool D, opening against 2018 Asiad runner-up South Korea on Sunday, followed by 2022 silver medalist China on Monday, and 2018 bronze medalist Chinese Taipei on Tuesday.
The Philippines is looking to make its first Asian Games podium in men’s volleyball. Its best finish remains fourth-place in the inaugural staging in 1958.
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