MANILA, Philippines — After the world’s best in men’s basketball in 2023, the cream of men’s volleyball is converging in the country next.
The Philippines will be the mecca of volleyball soon, having won the hosting rights for the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Men’s World Championship on Sept. 12 to 28 in 2025.
Sen. Pia Cayetano and Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon Suzara led the Philippine bidding delegation awarded the rights in an official ceremony at the FIVB general headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland Tuesday (yesterday in Manila).
FIVB president Dr. Ary Graca, no less, declared the Philippines as the winning bidder – the sole winner, meaning the 32 best men’s teams in the world will troop to the country, strutting their stuff before Filipino fans in September 2025.
Also in the Philippine delegation were PNVF secretary general Don Caringal, vice president Richard Palou, executive director Marie Louise Principe and event director Pauline Marie Ick.
Among the attendees from the FIVB side with Graca were FIVB general director Fabio Azevedo, Volleyball World chairman Luis Fernando Lima, VW chief executive officer Finn Taylor and chief business officer Guido Betti.
The PNVF made the pitch with support from government officials including Cayetano, a former volleyball player, and Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.