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| (Image Source: Manila Standard) |
Concerned officials of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and Philippine national volleyball team coaches conveyed at the Aquamarine Recreational and Events Center in Lipa City, Batangas last September 11, 2021 (Saturday) for a fruitful meeting/workshop leading to the forging of a calendar for the end-quarter of 2021 and 2022 and a short-term plan for Philippine volleyball in the next two years. Brazilian consultant coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito and national team coaches Odjie Mamon (women's), Dante Alinsunurin (men) and Dong Dela Cruz (men) took part in the preceedings that set the future of the national team program in motion with PNVF President Ramon "Tats" Suzara presiding over the workshop which was also attended by PNVF Secretary General Don Caringal, Deputy Secretary General for International Affairs Ricky Palou and National Team Commission Chairman Tonyboy Liao.
During the workshop, Souza de Brito unveiled an action plan for 2022 and 2023 to develop and improve the quality of the national men's and women's volleyball teams. In view of the pandemic situation and taking into account the country's current talent depth, Souza de Brito proposed an action plan that encompasses the physical, technical, tactical, psychological and structural aspects of the national team program. The plan, according to Souza de Brito, includes development of physical work in supporting progressive workload; quality training through domestic and international competitions and friendlies; and maintenance, improvement and expansion of the technical staff among other proposed parameters.
In a sport that requires strength, ability and dexterity, the Brazilian consultant coach said that a good volleyball player needs to have strong shoulders, strong legs, strong core, good jumping, height, anticipation, understanding, high speed and definitely a lot of explosion. “Volleyball is a business and as such needs to be thought of in the medium and long term,” Souza de Brito said. The Aquamarine Recreational and Events Center served as a training ground for the Philippine national men's and women's volleyball teams in preparation for the AVC Asian Men's and Women's Club Championships in Thailand this October.
Next year, the Philippines will have a heavy domestic and international season for both genders. Originally scheduled for December but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam is tentatively slated to be moved to March 2022 upon pending confirmation by the organizers. On the other hand, the Asian Senior Women's Volleyball Championship is set to take place in Pampanga on May 15-22, 2022 while the Hangzhou Asian Games is set to push through on September 10-25, 2021. The Philippine men's team will be competing in the eight-nation Philippine leg of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on June 20-26. Then there is the Premier Volleyball League with two conferences to be held in February and October and the PNVF Champions League which will have two tournaments in April and December.
