Phl ready for Asian men’s volleyball

MANILA, Philippines - Organizers are going through great lengths to ensure the success of the the first biggest international sporting event this year –  the Asian Men’s Volleyball Club Championship –   set April 8-16 at the Mall of Asia and Cunea Astrodome.

Local government units, the Philippine National Police and the sponsoring PLDT Home Fibr are in close coordination with the organizing Philippine Volleyball Federation and Sportscore as various activities have been lined up for the foreign and local officials and the participants in this tournament also supported by Mikasa, Gerflor-Spurway, Senoh Equipment, Healthway Medical Services and Maynilad.

Other teams participating are seven-time champion Iran, Iraq, Mongolia, Japan, Lebanon, Vietnam, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Oman, Hong Kong, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Papua New Guinea, Chinese Taipei and China.

A welcome dinner prepared by PLDT will officially usher in activities for the athletes and officials tomorrow at the poolside of the City Club at Alphaland Makati Place on Ayala Ave. corner Malugay St. starting at 7 p.m.

Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto will join Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ricardo Garcia, former PSC chief and AMCC organizing  committee chairman Philip Ella Juico, Philippine Superliga president Ramon “Tats” Suzara and PVF president Karl Chan and sec-gen. Otie Camangian in welcoming the participants and members of the diplomatic community.

Other special guests in the PLDT affair are chairman Hyungbin Yim of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and his entourage Tetsuya Ozaki (president, Senoh Equipment-Japan) and Masahiro Masuoka, (international marketing manager, Senoh Equipment-Japan).

Makati Mayor Binay, meanwhile, opened his city as a shopping and tourism haven to athletes and officials.

All games by the Philippine Team, also known as the Power Pinoys or the PLDT HOME TVolution team, will be televised live on TV5.