The Philippine men’s volleyball team will have the luxury of more than a year of preparation for the country’s hosting of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
Head coach Sergio Veloso looks to utilize the long buildup for the prestigious tournament featuring 32 nations happening from 12 to 28 September next year to ensure a competitive team composed of the best Filipino players.
The Brazilian tactician along with deputies Odjie Mamon and returning former national team mentor will oversee the selection of a 25-man pool that will begin training after the end of the Spikers’ Turf tournament next month.
Aside from club players, Veloso will also tap young and promising talents from the collegiate ranks as part of the national team’s long-term program.
“This balance between new players and the senior players is important because the opportunity (to play) is not only limited to the World Championship but also to other international competitions,” Veloso said.
“You need to take this balance, keeping the best players. We invited the best players to participate in the national team.”
Veloso and his staff have yet to name the players that will be given the callup to join the pool.
But veteran internationalists Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, who were instrumental in the national team’s silver medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, are expected to retain their spots.
Also hoping to get a rare shot at playing against the best teams in the world are Jau Umandal, Lloyd Josafat, Kim Malabunga, Jayvee Sumagaysay and returning setter Owa Retamar among others.
Umandal, a mainstay in the team since 2019, welcomes the competition among other talented players to earn a slot in the pool.
“It will be a healthy competition for us. It would be better for the team to have a deeper bench this time,” Umandal said as he will be vying for a wing spot against Espejo and Bagunas.
The world No. 56 ranked Filipinos will have a series of international exposures as part of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s deal with the FIVB for the World Championship hosting.
Another stint in the SEA V. League is in the pipeline along with the country’s participation in the Asian Challenge Cup on 2 to 9 June either in Australia or Bahrain.
