A VETERAN of the national team for nine years, Marck Espejo has established himself as a household name in Philippine men's volleyball.
So it is rather unusual not to see the 27-year-old hotshot don the Philippine colors in international play — more so on home soil.
READ: Marck Espejo signs with Japan V.League club Kubota Spears Osaka
Espejo was excluded from the 14-man squad that bagged the country’s first men’s volleyball medal in four years since the historic silver in front of a rousing home crowd in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Just two months ago, the four-time Spikers’ Turf best outside hitter and three-time Finals MVP took on the captaincy in what would be former mentor Sergio Veloso’s last head coaching stint for Alas in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Men in Bahrain.
There, the Espejo-led nationals only won one match against Indonesia to finish 10th in the 12-nation field.
'Sayonara, Marck' for now
While out as a national player, Espejo was not exactly idle. He is gearing up for a third stint with Kubota Spears Osaka in a newly unified and tier-less V.League and was in South Korea with the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos which he helped win the championship.
But going back to Japan is to priority.
"Very excited po. New players, new team, new environment. Naglolook forward na ko na ma-meet sila and sa bagong liga and happy ako nakabalik ako sa Japan," he said.
This means the former Alas skipper will have to wait until next year before suiting up for the national team again, effectively ruling him out for Leg 2 of the SEA V.League in Indonesia.
“Ang balik po ko, next year na po ako. Hindi po ako makakalaro sa second leg. Aalis po ako sa September (for Japan V.League) at babalik po ako April,” Espejo shared.
He did, however, leave some wiggle room on possibly playing for Alas before his expected return to the country next year.
“Pero hindi pa natin sure, baka bigla akong maglaro. We’ll see po.”
Will Alas be World Championship-ready?
Under his current timetable, Espejo will have five months next year to prepare with Alas for the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship in Manila come September.
On paper, that isn't enough time for the nationals to train as a full unit. And then there's also the matter of whether Espejo’s co-ace spiker Bryan Bagunas, who hurt his left knee in the four-sets loss to Indonesia in the first leg of the regional meet, will be healthy enough for the tournament.
Espejo still holds hope that all will be well for a rebuilding national team. He cited the entry of new players and also for having a new leader, the Italian Angiolino Frigoni, who is the team's new coach.
“Masaya po kasi from sa last year na SEA V.League, fourth place kami. Ngayon, third place sa first leg. Panibagong achievement pero malayo pa po. Malayo pa ‘yun pero nakikita naman natin na meron pa at marami pang pwedeng matutunan.
“I hope sa mga bagong coaches and system, maka-adapt lahat at magamit sa darating na World (Championship) next year."
Espejo added: “Kay coach Angelo (Frigoni), very basic volleyball lang po. Pinapakita niya lang po sa’min kung paano talaga maglaro ng volleyball. Sa offense, medyo makakadikit naman (kami) pero siyempre yung mga touches pa rin, ball control, du’n pa kami medyo nahirapan and sa errors po
“But in time, with young players, mag-iimprove pa po talaga kami.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
