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Coach Sergio Veloso.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine men’s volleyball team coach Sergio Veloso is pleased to have Dante Alinsunurin on his side as the country braces for its participation and hosting of the FIVB Men’s World Championship next year.
Alinsunurin, who parted ways with the national team last year, returns to the program as he joins Veloso and assistant coach Odjie Mamon in selecting the 25-man pool for the upcoming international tournaments including next year’s historic men’s world championship in Manila.
More than having Alinsunurin and Mamon on his side, the Brazilian coach is open to listening to coaches, who want to help the national team program, believing it could help in the team’s preparation for the world tilt next year from September 12 to 28 at Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“[If there are other coaches, who want to help the national team, I’m open. And the second, we need to split this experience for the other coaches, too. Now you have coach Dante and coach Odjie, who is still with us. If other coaches want to see the practice or improve with us, it’s open,” said Veloso during the launch of the country’s hosting of the 2025 Men’s World Championship on Tuesday.
Veloso, who took over the men’s national program last year, believes the country should make the most of the hosting to take the sport to the next level and improve the athletes, coaches, and other people involved in the men’s league.
READ: Sergio Veloso calls for unity as PH set to host FIVB men’s worlds
“We need to improve managing and this opportunity in the world championship, it’s not only for the players. When you host these kinds of tournaments, everybody should improve too because there’s a lot to do in the management of the tournament,” said the veteran coach, who was brought to the Philippines as part of FIVB’s development project platform.
That’s why Veloso wants to maximize their more than a year of preparation for the world tilt as he, Alinsunurin, and Mamon will form the national pool, which he expects to have healthy competition between all the members.
“I’ll give opportunity to all players. This is the most important. And the seniors, the experienced players, should have a mindset of, I need to do my best because if I don’t do my best the other player can get my position.’ And the beginners, ‘Oh I’ll use this opportunity. If the guy give me the opportunity, I get his position.’ This is what I call a good fight, and everybody go up when you get a good fight,” he said.
Veloso, who also calls the shots for Ateneo, will begin the national team build-up after the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference as they will join the SEA VLeague and AVC Challenger Cup and will face three Japanese club teams in September for the one-year countdown of the World Championship.
“I’m so excited. I think all the fans in the volleyball community are so excited about the world championship. And the most important is a very good opportunity for Philippine volleyball — not only for the players, but also for the coaches, the sponsors, and the fans. I hope we can do a very, very good job in the world championship,” he said.
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