FORMER Philippine men’s volleyball national team head coach Sammy Acaylar has passed away at 66.
Acaylar was a deputy in the last Philippine team that won gold in the 17th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore under the tutelage of Russian head coach Stanislav Lugailo.
The well-loved 66-year-old mentor would spend most of his years in the sport building the University of Perpetual Help volleyball program from the ground up as its former sports director and eventual head coach.
With Acaylar at the helm, the Altas achieved league-best feats in winning 14 NCAA men’s volleyball championships and a 53-game unbeaten run. His brief stint with the Lady Altas also saw them win a hat-trick of titles from Seasons 88 to 90.
The school bade a difficult farewell to a longstanding stalwart of its volleyball program on Thursday morning.
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“Coach Sammy was more than just the Head Coach of the Perpetual ALTAS Men's Volleyball team—he was the heart and soul of the program,” the school wrote.
“Through his unwavering dedication and passion, he led the team to numerous NCAA championships, shaping not just athletes, but inspiring countless lives along the way.
“His loss leaves a void that words cannot fill, but his legacy will forever live on in the hearts of those he guided, cheered for, and believed in.”
Acaylar also had tours of duty in UAAP men’s volleyball with the University of the Philippines, La Salle, and University of the East, along with Spikers Turf sides Savouge Aesthetics and Imus.
Coach Sammy's all-around impact
Among his final acts of service to the sport were in the club volleyball scene.
He was the very first mentor of Cignal’s decorated clubs from their early beginnings in the Philippine Superliga before jumping ship to Sta. Lucia.
His most valiant fight, however, wasn’t on the volleyball taraflex.
Rather, it was at the sidelines fighting for his former Premier Volleyball League club Gerflor Defenders amid their wage concerns and sub-optimal training conditions before their eventual league exit in 2023.
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