READY FOR BATTLE

Backed by old hands led by star spiker Marck Espejo, expectations are high on the well-equipped national team as it marches to the Asian Volleyball Confederation Challenge Cup for Men starting tomorrow in Taiwan.

Korean Volleyball League-bound Espejo's presence, along with two other returning key figures in the Nationals' silver medal finish in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019, gives the Sergio Veloso-mentored squad a big boost in the 17-nation field.

The 14-man Filipino crew left for Taiwan yesterday and will have a couple of days to study and prepare before plunging into Pool D action on 9 July.

The Nationals open their campaign against Macau on Sunday before taking on Mongolia on Monday.

Espejo , Rex Intal and Kim Malabunga are back for the tricolor after skipping the Phnom Penh SEA Games last May for personal reasons.

The trio played an instrumental role in the Nationals' last podium finish in the biennial meet. Their absence along with other big names in veteran internationalist Bryan Bagunas and starting setter Owa Retamar were greatly felt as the inexperienced Philippine team missed the podium in Cambodia.

But now back in the fold, Veloso has a good mix of grizzled veterans, holdovers from his SEA Games lineup and a bunch of young players and new faces raring to showcase their wares in the international stage.

Also charging for another tour of duty is Jau Umandal, who was also a member of the historic 2019 team.

Setters Vince Mangulabnan and Kim Dayandante, Filipino-American opposite spiker Steve Rotter, Lloyd Josafat, and liberos Manuel Sumanguid and Vince Lorenzo are all looking for redemption after their SEA Games stint.

Cignal's Chumason Njigha, veteran hitter Madz Gampong, Filipino-American wing spiker Ryan Ka and De La Salle University star Noel Kampton are making their national team debuts.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation initially submitted 20 names for the Challenge Cup.

Bagunas, who just returned to training after his wedding last month, is on the list together with Jayvee Sumagaysay, Adrian Villados, former team captain John Vic de Guzman, Edward Camposano and Cyrus de Guzman.

The Nationals are also using the Challenge Cup as a primer for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September.

The top two teams after the pool play will advance to the knock out Last 12 for seats in the quarterfinals. The quarters, semifinals and final are also knockout affairs.