PH men’s volleyball world ranking umangat sa No. 56 mula 167

ANG Pilipinas ay umangat mula sa No.167 to No.56 sa International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) men’s world rankings matapos pomuste ng dalawang panalo sa nagpapatuloy na Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup sa Chinese Taipei.

“This is one big, major achievement for our men’s indoor volleyball team,” Wika ni Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara Miyerkules.

“This is by far the most significant accomplishment by our men’s team and the PNVF just under three years into its establishment as the national federation,” Dagdag ni Suzara.

Humakbang rin sa world rankings ang Macau mula sa No.165 to 58 at Mongolia ( No. 164 to No. 49) na parehong sumasabak sa Taiwan.

Ang Philippine team ay binubuu nina Vincent Raphael Mangulabanan, Noel Michael Kampton, Kim Harold Dayandante, Vince Patrick Lorenzo, Ryan Andrew Banez, Kim Malabunga, Jayvee Sumagaysay, Steve Charles Rotter, Adrian Villados, John Vic de Guzman, Joshua Umandal, Edward Camposano, Bryan Bagunas, Marck Jesus Espejo, Rex Emmanuel Intal, Madzlan Gampong, Lloyd Josafat, Cyrus de Guzman, Manual Sumanguid III at Chumason Celestine Njigha. Brazilian Sergio Veloso ang head coach kasama sina Odjie Mamon at Rommel Abella bilang assistant coaches.

Ang iba pang opisyal na kasama sa team ay sina PNVF director Rod Roque, team manager Jerome Guhit, strength at conditioning coach Melchidedek Samonte at statistician Mark Gil Alfafara. Ang PNVF ay nagpadala rin ng FIVB referee Janus Dumaran sa Taiwan.

Dinaig ng Pilipinas ang Macau (25-21, 25-15, 25-14) nakaraang Linggo at Mongolia (22-25, 25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 15-12) Lunes para marating ang final 12 ng AVC Challenge Cup sa University of Taipei Hall. Natalo sila sa Bahrain, 25-20, 25-17, 25-23, Miyerkules ng umaga.