Preparation for the 29th Southeast Asian Games next month shifts to high gear as the national men’s volleyball team flies to Suwon, South Korea for a two-week training camp on Saturday.
Bannered by skipper Johnvic De Guzman, the Sammy Acaylar-mentored squad is set to leave at 2:35 p.m. via Philippine Airlines flight 468 to Incheon before taking another few hours of land travel to the enchanting and historic city of Suwon, north of the South Korean capital Seoul.
In Suwon, a tight and hectic schedule– including a number of tune-up games– awaits the Nationals in their training camp based in Sungkyunkwan University serving as the highlight of their preparation for the biennial meet slated from August 19 to 31.
“Pagdating namin sa Korea may three days sila na tatlong beses mag-e-ensayo. Then another three days na may twice a day practice for morning and afternoon,” said Acaylar. “Kumbaga, Monday, Wednesday, Friday three times of practice sessions. Then Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, two times.
The team will use the facilities of SKK University for most of its training and tune up matches while some practice games will be at Hwasung volleyball court and Suwon Indoor Gym.
The Nationals will test their mettle against club team Hwasung City, the Korean national U-19 team, Korean Universiade national squad and against SKK University squad.
Acaylar wants to sharpen and develop the squad’s speed and floor defense as well as whipping setters Geuel Asia and Relan Taneo into top caliber playmakers under the tutelage of a Korean mentor.
“Korea is one of the best teams in Asia. That is why pinili ko talaga ang Korea kaysa Japan sa men’s. I want to develop the team more on service receive and pattern of floor defense, and especially, blocking. Dahil sa lalaki talaga, ang labanan diyan ay blocking,” said Acaylar, who steered the national men’s team to its last podium finish back in 1991 when the Pinoys snared bronze medal. “I told my libero and my setter na everytime na bago sila matulog, talagang pahahawakan ko sila sa mga Korean coaches para ma-train sila ng speed ng setting.”
“Kasi ang Korea is good in setting eh. Magaling sila mag-train ng setter, that is why gusto ko makuha ‘yung speed,” added Acaylar, whose team is bracketed with Vietnam and Indonesia in the SEA Games.
“Of course, ‘yung mentality ng isang setter, hindi lang siya nagse-set kundi nagse-set siya in which ‘yung blocker mahihila, kaya ayun ‘yung mga plano ko, so far.”
The national team is composed of De Guzman, Taneo, Asia, Bryan Bagunas, reigning Premier Volleyball League MVP Ranran Abdilla, Mark Alfafara, Alden Cabaron, Reyson Fuentes, Bonjomar Castel, Herschel Ramos, Jack Kalingking, Greg Dolor, Peter Quiel and John Eduard Carascal.
The squad will return to Manila on August 3.
