Pressure will be on the men’s beach volleyball squad with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation expecting a good result from its side for the coming Hangzhou Asian Games.
The Philippines has three entries competing in the Asiad slated to begin on 23 September with both the men’s and women’s beach volleyball squads and the men’s indoor team.
But the PNVF is pinning its hopes on the intact men’s beach volleyball team as the women’s squad will parade new faces after the departure of its veteran core while the men’s indoor side is just making their return to the continental meet for the first time in 49 years.
The core of the three-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist beach volleyball men’s squad will banner the tricolor in China.
Ranran Abdilla, James Buytrago, Jude Garcia and Jaron Requinton are back for a crack at Asiad glory.
It will be the first time that the Philippines will have a men’s squad in beach volleyball since the tandem of Parley Tupaz and Rhovyl Verayo finished at joint 13th place with two other pairs in 2006 in Doha.
Rondina, who won back-to-back SEA Games bronze medals but came out empty-handed in Cambodia last May, joined Choco Mucho. Pons signed with Creamline while Gonzaga reunited with Cignal.
Dij Rodriguez, Gene Eslapor, Grydelle Matibag and Khylem Progella will carry the nation’s hopes in its first Asiad appearance since the Fil-Am pair of Diane Pascua and Heidi Ilustre finished seventh in 2006.
