ALL eyes will be on the coveted outside hitter places once the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) names the men's national volleyball team pool ahead of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in the Philippines.
While an eclectic mix of longtime mainstays and rising stars is expected, household names in the men's volleyball game such as Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo are at the forefront of conversations — more so upon the completion of the ace pair's breakthrough overseas playing stints in Taiwan and Japan, respectively.
READ: No shoo-ins to PH team for 2025 World Championship, says Veloso
Another MVP-caliber ace in the running for a roster spot is Jau Umandal, who not only had an overseas stint of his own in Bahrain's top flight league in 2022 but also copped multiple MVP nods in the Spikers' Turf and the PNVF Champions League alongside various national team callups to his name.
Incumbent national coach Sergio Veloso gave Umandal his flowers for 'showing me that he can play' and stressed how Bagunas and Espejo 'need to fight with Umandal for the position' once they return to the Philippines in the next few months.
Umandal, however, made it clear that any competition he'll have with the star duo will be 'healthy' and solely for the best interests of the national team.
"Ako naman, 'di naman ako nakikipag-compete. Healthy competition pa rin kami (nila Bryan Bagunas at Marck Espejo). Panalo ng isa, panalo naming lahat. Mas maganda na malalim 'yung pagkukuhanan sa bench at magtutulong-tulong kami para maabot namin 'yung achievement ng national team," said Umandal.
All for Phliippine volleyball
To have his former national coach Dante Alinsunurin back as a deputy after their historic 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games silver medal is a welcome development made more promising by the addition of his former University of Sto. Tomas mentor Odjie Mamon in such a decorated national coaching staff.
"Masaya kami kasi naging part din kami ng program ni coach Dante (Alinsunurin). Since 2019 to 2022, si coach Dante na ang may hawak sa amin. Nandoon ulit 'yung learnings namin sa dating program namin kay coach Dante. Masaya kami kasi tatlong coaches na magtutulong-tulong para sa programa na gagawin namin," Umandal said.
And in a year's time, Umandal's fellow homegrown men's volleyball aces alongside up-and-coming talents will not only get the chance to watch some of the world's brightest stars take their acts live but will also be competing with them in the global meet.
Hence, for the Philippines to host the world's biggest men's volleyball showpiece is a dream come true for Umandal.
"Sa aming volleyball players, sobrang laking ng impact nito lalo na't gaganapin dito ang World (Championship). Sobrang daming volleyball players sa ibang bansa na hinahangaan ng bawat isa sa amin at sobrang sarap sa feeling na makikita niyo 'yung mga hinahangaan niyong volleyball players na magko-compete dito sa Pinas.
"Makakatulong din 'yun, makakadagdag sa experience, learnings ng bawat isa na mga manlalaro sa bansa at opportunity din sa mga susunod na generations na maglalaro para sa national team," Umandal said.
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