ONCE when he was a player and even when he became a coach, Dante Alinsunurin always had a dream that men’s volleyball would reach new heights in terms of popularity and support in the country.
The longtime Philippine men’s volleyball patron saw the men’s game grow with meager crowd counts and small venues that hardly get filled.
Because for the longest time, it’s the women’s game that has enjoyed the limelight and mainstream attention from the volleyball community.
Fast forward to 2025, Alinsunurin was at the forefront of one of the men’s game’s greatest breakthroughs yet.
Near 15K-Strong For Men's Volleyball
The UAAP amassed a record 14,517 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena which saw Alinsunurin's National U crowned champions for the fifth straight season over Far Eastern University with a 25-16, 28-26, 25-23 win in the title series’ rubber match.
It was the league’s highest fan turnout ever in a single men’s volleyball game.
Once the celebrations were done and dusted on the court, Alinsunurin found himself on the verge of tears seeing how far the game he’s lived and breathed for over a decade has come.
“Pagpasok ko pa lang dito, sigurado sabi ko pupunuin ‘tong [venue]. ‘Yung suporta nila sa men’s, sana ‘wag sila magsawa. Nakita naman nila kung gaano ka-exciting kapag men’s naglalaro,” Alinsunurin said.
“Malaking bagay to kasi nga eto ‘yung laging pinaghuhugutan lagi ng men's teams. Every time na may championship matches, du’n lang talaga dumadami yung tao kaya sana magtuloy-tuloy lang.
“‘Yung mga players namin, sana mag-continue lang na maging motivated na nakikita nila na yung men's [game] ay umaangat na para yung level din namin ay tumaas.”
NU and Alas Pilipinas mainstay Buds Buddin added: “Masaya kasi first of all, ito talaga ‘yung pinaka-pangarap ni coach Dante na mas mapaangat yung men’s volleyball. Nakita namin na unti-unti nang naggo-grow yung followers, supporters.
“Sana suportahan niyo pa yung men’s volleyball, hindi lang yung NU, FEU kundi lahat ng men’s volleyball sa Pilipinas.”
During National U’s championship presser, Alinsunurin took a brief pause upon realizing his greatest success in this title series.
It wasn’t just the five-peat and the championship per se. It was seeing the fruits of his and every pioneer, player and coach that lifted the men’s game over the years.
Gone were the days when the men’s game was a mere afterthought.
In their greatest show of force yet ahead of the Philippines’ hosting of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship this September, men’s volleyball now has its long-overdue recognition.
And it was simply a matter of time.
“Nu’ng umpisa, mahirap talaga mag-recruit kasi ‘di kilala yung men’s team. ‘Di kami pinapansin,” the National U coach said.
“’Yung mga bagay na pinagtatrabahuan namin ay nagbunga. Sana mag-continue lang lagi, kung sinuman ‘yung magustuhan namin, o ‘yung ilagay namin sa NU ay mag-continue pa.
“Sabi ko nga, ‘di lang naman ang gusto namin ay maging champion. Gusto rin namin yung mga player namin ay lumevel sa Pilipinas."
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