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    College stars over pros: Suzara shares vision for 'World Championship' team

    The future is now, says Suzara
    Jul 10, 2023
    PNVF Tats Suzara Bella Belen Alyssa Solomon Angel Canino
    PNVF president Tats Suzara is keen to hone college stars as the future of Philippine volleyball.
    PHOTO: Patrick Romero, UAAP

    PHILIPPINE National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon "Tats" Suzara has made his stance clear on how the women's volleyball national team will take shape for at least the "next two years."

    READ: Amid rift with PVL, Suzara eyes national team of college standouts

    "We will have to put up a team for the next two years and the FIVB will support us for the training of our team [if we win the bid] for this first-ever Women's World Championship to be held in the Philippines in 2025," Suzara said.

    "We had initial meetings with some universities [that] I will not divulge but this is a good cooperation with very young UAAP players for the World Championship," he added.

    As the PNVF prepares to launch its 2025 FIVB Women's World Championship hosting bid, Suzara did address the elephant in the room when it comes to national team discourses — the country's pro league stars and the constant club vs country debates.

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    "Of course, we still need 'yung mga pro players din for the team. But of course, I want kasi na they're focusing mismo [sa World Championship] kasi the team will be traveling for the next two years.

    "Our problem with the professional players sa PVL is they have their own calendar and minsan, baka hindi payagan ng mga club owners. So it's better to focus more on the university players with the cooperation of their teams and universities and focusing without affecting the UAAP calendar," the PNVF chief said.

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      Unlike the PVL, Suzara bared how the UAAP's calendar, in particular, is better calibrated and aligned with the FIVB's mandated national team calendar — a vital consideration by the PNVF in selecting college stars over PVL players.

      "After UAAP, this is the national team period [from May 16 to October 15] so kung buo 'yung team, whether there are 15 or 18 players, they will have to travel to many tournaments para they are ready for the 2025 World Championship," Suzara explained.

      "This is part of the support of the FIVB for our team to compete in many tournaments sa Europe and South America para ready 'yung team natin," he revealed.

      Bella Belen vs La Salle

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      Although Suzara did not name the four universities he is in contact with, he listed some teams that matched his vision of a prospective World Championship team.

      "The World Championship will usually fall from August to September 2025 for two weeks. So this is my target: if I have two players from La Salle, two players from Ateneo, four players from NU, two players from Adamson, so this will be a really good team — tall, young, and willing to travel.

      "I'm getting also good support now from sponsors who are willing to sponsor what I call our 'World Championship' team," Suzara revealed.

      The newest Philippine women's national team will be announced next week, featuring college stars who will comprise the nationals' core for the next two years in the buildup to the 2025 FIVB Women's World Championship.

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      PNVF president Tats Suzara is keen to hone college stars as the future of Philippine volleyball.
      PHOTO: Patrick Romero, UAAP
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