Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) – The Philippine indoor men’s and women’s volleyball teams are set to train in Ilocos Norte in preparation for their upcoming tournaments this year.
The development was revealed on Tuesday by Philippine National Volleyball Federation President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, saying they are finalizing the accommodation and training venues of the Filipino spikers.
Suzara added that the national volleyball federation is eyeing the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City and the Bacarra Gym in Bacarra town as practice venues.
“We’re just preparing for the logistics and they will start playing there already, hopefully by next week — the men’s and women’s volleyball national team,” said Suzara.
The planned training bubble for the indoor volleyball squads comes after the successful month-long camp of the men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams in the beach town of Pagudpud.
The beach spikers are now in Thailand for the Asian Volleyball Confederation Continental Cup, an Olympic qualifying event.
Suzara also said newly appointed women’s volleyball national team head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito has yet to secure his working visa. He added that the Brazilian Olympic champion player and mentor wants to get his first COVID-19 vaccine dose in Brazil.
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If the holding of the Premier Volleyball League would be permitted in the early weeks of July, Suzara said affected national team players must train with the squad in the morning and with their mother club in the afternoon.
“This is a sacrifice that they have to make,” added Suzara.
The Philippine women’s volleyball team will compete on home soil in the AVC Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, scheduled on Aug. 29 to Sept. 5 in Clark, Pampanga.
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On the other hand, their male counterparts will participate in the AVC Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship slated in Chiba, Japan in September.
