FILE–Alas Pilipinas coach Angiolino Frigoni throughout the SEA VLeague first leg.–SAVA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — With one 12 months to go earlier than the nation’s historic internet hosting of the 2025 FIVB Males’s Volleyball World Championships, Japanese nationwide crew star Yuji Nishida and Osaka Bluteon are out to play the Alas Pilipinas in a sequence of friendlies over the weekend at Philsports Enviornment.
From representing Japan within the Volleyball Nations League up to now three Manila legs, Nishida shall be main his Japan SV.League towards Alas, which is led by SEA V.League awardees Buds Buddin and Kim Malabunga.
Article continues after this commercial
“Now it’s already slightly bit tiring as a result of we simply completed follow and got here again right here however I’m so completely happy to hitch this [friendlies]… I hope to offer extra vitality to the followers and put together for the Japan V.League,” stated Nishida as he exams the mettle of Alas at 6 p.m. earlier than one other sport on Sunday. “Good to fulfill you Nationwide Staff of Pilipinas. I hope I shall be chosen to play for the nationwide crew subsequent 12 months [for the world championship]. I’m trying ahead to the sport.”
READ: Alas Pilipinas groups set for exhibition vs visiting Japan groups
Yuji Nishida on dealing with Alas Pilipinas. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/pvSXY3X09W
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 6, 2024
The 2-day joust towards Japanese groups comes on the heels of Alas’ historic bronze-medal end within the SEA V. League, leaving no stone unturned in its World Championships preparations that can even embrace a coaching camp in Italy.
Article continues after this commercial
“We now have to follow and play as a lot as attainable towards worldwide groups,” stated Alas males coach Angiolino Frigoni, the previous mentor of the powerhouse Italian ladies’s crew earlier than taking the helm for Alas males now.
“This can be a very large alternative and problem for our gamers. I hope they won’t be afraid to play towards gamers and groups they usually see solely on TV. I hope it is going to be helpful for us for the world championships subsequent 12 months.”
In the meantime, coach Jorge Souza De Brito and the Alas ladies’s crew battle SV.League membership Saga Hisamitsu Springs at 3 p.m.
“It’s an honor and an enormous alternative for the Alas ladies making an attempt to continue to grow which is all the time vital. It’s vital for us to enhance our sport, particularly towards robust groups and gamers from Japan,” stated De Brito, who steered Alas to 3 bronze medals within the AVC Problem Cup and the previous two SEA V.League legs.
De Brito, although, will depend on Julia Coronel and one other shock participant, whom he didn’t reveal, as Jia De Guzman is already in Japan for the Denso AiryBees’ season.
READ: Alas Pilipinas males rally previous Vietnam for 2nd SEA VLeague bronze
Alas coaches on their friendlies. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/4cW0YqhWxN
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 6, 2024
Erika Sakae and Miyu Nagaoka will headline Hisamitsu, the 2022 V.League champion, beneath the tutelage of Shingo Sakai.
“I’m so completely happy to play towards the Philippine crew. It’s a very long time no see to play towards the Philippines. I’m trying ahead to taking part in with [them],” stated Nagaoka, who final performed within the Philippines within the FIVB World Membership Championship and AVC Membership Championship in 2016.
“The Philippines followers’ ardour is so large so I felt and we need to encourage Philippine followers with our volleyball and subsequent month we are going to [play in the SV.League] so we need to make preparation,” Sakae added.
The one-year countdown for the 32-team world tourney shall be having a week-long celebration earlier than the official World Championships draw on Sept. 14 and a kickoff live performance to be hosted by Malacañang on Sept. 15.
“That is the primary time for Southeast Asia to host each divisions. That is historical past for SEA. My new position as AVC president is to have a better relationship with our Asian counterparts and in addition to with, Europe, Africa, and the Americas,” stated Philippine Nationwide Volleyball Federation (PNVF) headed by newly-elected AVC president Tats Suzara.
“These are robust groups from Japan so we’re excited and completely happy to play them. We’re grateful for his or her time. This shall be an eye-opening pleasant for our Filipino followers, like within the VNL, and forward of the world championships.”