THREE years since multi-titled mentor Tai Bundit last called the shots for Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), a new challenge awaits the Thai tactician — coaching a newly assembled men’s team for the first time.
With five titles under his belt, three with Creamline and two with Ateneo in the UAAP, Bundit already has high standards set upon himself as the newly-minted mentor of Rebisco’s third volleyball club Criss Cross King Crunchers.
“In my dream, [we will be] champion,” Bundit told media men during Criss Cross’ team launch on Friday in Pasig City.
It might be a new squad but the King Crunchers aren’t short of experience and championship pedigree by any means with national team mainstays Marck Espejo, Rex Intal, Kim Malabunga, and captain Ysay Marasigan at the forefront of its first-ever Spikers Turf roster.
“My players [are] very good, they concentrate on training and I will support them to be better players.
“I have experience, I will do better in the men’s team [in] Rebisco,” said Bundit.
Never an easy time
Criss Cross had its first team training back on January 16 sans Espejo, who is expected to join the squad ‘by the end of April’ once his Korea V-League stint wraps up.
And from the words of Bundit’s newest wards, training with the Thai mentor has been quite an experience thus far.
“If I were to describe coach Tai’s training it’s hard pero happy. Hard pero as in happy, happy kahit gaano nakakapagod smile lang, happy lang, good vibes,” said Intal.
Team captain Marasigan added: “Mahirap ‘yung training namin kay Coach Tai (Bundit), of course. Focused talaga si Coach Tai sa basic skills and [ayaw niya ng] pa-banjing-banjing lang sa training.
“Kailangan talaga, seryoso ka. Scheduled na per drill, talagang sinusunod na kailangan matapos ‘to dito sa time na ‘to, mag-start dito sa time na ‘to, and matapos namin lahat nung training program na needed.”
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