
The national men’s and women’s volleyball teams are scheduled to undergo training under a bubble-type setup in Ilocos Norte starting next month in preparation for upcoming tournaments this year.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) President Tats Suzara said the men’s team will train from July 1 to Aug. 31 while the women’s team will prepare for July 1 to Aug. 15 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City.
The training programs remain as scheduled despite uncertainties on whether or not the 31st Southeast Asian Games will push through in Vietnam late this year following pandemic fears.
Vietnam organizers are expected to announce their decision by July 8.
Apart from the SEAG, the women’s team is also set to compete in the Asian Women’s Championships that the country is hosting from Aug. 29 to Sept. 5.
The tournament will have 12 nations competing that include Japan, Thailand, South Korea and China, to name a few.
Suzara said the men’s and women’s teams will adhere to strict health protocols that include undergoing RT PCR test last Saturday, June 26, in time for their departure to Ilocos Norte on Monday, June 28, and saliva test every two weeks.
The women’s team, however, will wait for the arrival of Brazilian coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito a little longer as the Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to release his visa.
“We have been following up with the DFA regularly despite all endorsement letters already sent to them by the Philippine Sports Commission since June 16,” Suzara said.