TIME has healed all wounds for ace setter Joshua Retamar following his decision to step back from national team duties back in 2022 in light of issues on 'inadequate support' for the nationals.
Ahead of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship cycle, Retamar will be part of a stacked field looking to break into the Philippine National Volleyball Federation's (PNVF) player pool to be unveiled by April.
Retamar's bid to rejoin the Philippine team comes on the heels of former national coach and his current National University mentor Dante Alinsunurin being named a deputy along with Odjie Mamon in Sergio Veloso's staff.
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With the past now behind him, Retamar is grateful to receive an invite from the PNVF to the national team tryouts. He was part of the squad that won a historic silver medal with in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games — one that also took place on home soil just like next year's global showpiece.
"Sobrang saya kasi nainvite ulit ako na mag-try out para sa national team tapos ito pa 'yung preparation namin. Paghahandaan ko po talaga para mapasok ako sa lineup," said Retamar.
For flag and country
It may have taken a couple of years before Retamar considered a national team return, but the three-time Spikers' Turf best setter and reigning UAAP Finals MVP wanted to make sure he'll be in the best headspace and position to give '100 percent' of what he's capable of for flag and country.
"Ako naman po kasi, hindi ako basta sumasali kapag alam kong hindi ko mabibigay ang 100 percent ko. Ngayon po na ready na ako at kung nandiyan pa rin naman po ang tiwala ng coaches sa kaya ko ma-contribute, sino naman po ako para tanggihan ang pagkakataong mag-try-out at makapaglaro para sa bayan?"
Retamar added: "Nakaka-excite po na makita ang pagmamahal at suporta (ng Filipino volleyball fans) sa mga men’s international teams. Susubukan po naming mga Pinoy players na maging karapat-dapat din sa puso ninyo.”
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