THE 2029 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship will be hosted by the Philippines.
Amid all the controversy in the hosting of the men's tournament, the country will be running it back four years from now with the women taking center stage.
READ Italy still world champ after denying crowd favorite Bulgaria
The hosting will mark Alas Pilipinas Women’s debut in the world stage and second-ever appearance by a Philippine women's national volleyball team since 1974 where they finished 18th.
FIVB president Fabio Azevedo preceded the announcement by heaping praise on what he said was the 'best world championship ever,' without elaborating.
"Philippines, thank you for hosting the best World Championships ever," Azevedo said. "But now, we have an amazing surprise for the entire Philippines today."
And it was Brazil volleyball icon Leila Barros who broke the news before Filipino fans that first welcomed her on local shores 25 years ago.
"Yes, the Women's Volleyball World Championship 2029 will be in the Philippines. Mahal ko kayo," Barros said.
Now a biennial meet, the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship will first be hosted by both Canada and the USA in 2027 before arriving to the Philippines in 2029.
Four-year wait begins
Alas Pilipinas captain Jia de Guzman, who was in attendance with the rest of the Nationals, was delighted over the announcement.
And it will be an opportunity de Guzman and whoever will don the national tricolors by then will seize to the fullest.
"We're so, so happy, as in. We couldn't believe it at first, and now, biglang mapupunta kami sa [world stage]," de Guzman said.
"It will give us a lot of time to prepare for it. With what the Alas Men showed, with 16 months of preparation tapos ganyan kaganda ‘yung pinakita nila, there are so many possibilities talaga.
"We're just happy that we're going to be given the opportunity to represent women’s [volleyball] naman on this stage."
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.
